Katikati Open-Air Art

06/09/2026

🌿 The Forest Unseen — New Exhibition at Carlton Gallery 🌿
7 September – 4 October

We’re proud to present new work by Sas Pearce and Tony Pearce.

Sas Pearce
Sas’s ceramics explore the tiny, often overlooked details of nature- moss, lichen, textures, seed pods and the quiet patterns of growth. Her work invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and notice what might otherwise remain unseen.

Tony Pearce
Tony is a New Zealand artist and art teacher known for hyperrealistic charcoal and graphite portraits, alongside landscapes inspired by dramatic light, travel and the outdoors. He works across oils, watercolours, mixed media and pastels.

Come experience their beautiful exhibition at Carlton Gallery, The Arts Junction.
Free entry. All welcome.
The Arts Junction, 36 Main Road Katikati

31/08/2026

Katikati Open Air Art would like to invite you to our 2026 AGM
Location: Patuki Manawa, 21 Main Road, Katikati 3129, Katikati.
Room: McKinney
Time: 4.00pm
Date: 15th September 2026

Please RSVP to [email protected]

RSVP's are necessary to book catering and seats

28/08/2026

🎨✨ Project Update #1 – The Arts Junction Mural ✨🎨
Kia ora Katikati. This is our first official update on the new mural coming to The Arts Junction.

As many of you know, the exterior walls are a blank canvas at the moment. Last year the building had structural issues and we sadly lost the beautiful Shane Walker mural sponsored by DOC. We tried everything to save it, but it could not be restored.

So we put our thinking caps on and came up with a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel. 🐾

We now have our artists confirmed:
• Millie Pidwell as project lead
• Marino Magee for the southern wall (mana whenua focus)
• Richard Samuels for the southern wall (mana whenua focus)

We brought together Mana Whenua, Katch Katikati, DOC, Project Parore, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and KOAA for a creative workshop led by Millie. The group agreed that the new mural needs to be vibrant, bold, welcoming and full of Katikati identity.

The creative goals are to make a mural that:

• Celebrates the uniqueness of Katikati
• Strengthens local identity and pride
• Reflects the creative spirit of The Arts Junction
• Visually energises the space
• Creates a welcoming and memorable experience
• Encourages connection between people, place, culture and environment
• Balances bold impact with meaningful storytelling
• Becomes a recognisable landmark in town

The mural will wrap around the entire building!

While the artists work on the concept plan, I am busy finding funding to make this project happen. We are very grateful to OceanaGold, TECT, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Matching Fund and the Acorn Foundation for their generous support. 💛

Because of this funding, we have been able to book the artists to begin work in February 2027. This gives us time to secure the remaining amount needed to bring the full vision to life.

If you would like to support this project, donations are gladly accepted.
You can get in touch at [email protected].

It is exciting to continue growing Aotearoa’s largest community owned art collection right here in Katikati. 🌿🎨
More updates coming soon.

27/08/2026

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬. 😁

APPLICATION FOR STALL SITES FOR THE 2027 FESTIVAL WILL OPEN FROM 15 SEPTEMBER 2026.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 2027, 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 $𝟏𝟒,𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. 🫵

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐙 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.🤩🤓

https://www.ruralart.nz/stall-holder-proposal

24/08/2026

✨ Into the Light – Katikati College Exhibition ✨

Katikati College students have officially opened their exhibition at Carlton Gallery today, and it is absolutely worth a visit.

These young artists have explored both abstract art and realism to express a sense of light, movement, and emotion. They’ve experimented with texture, layering, and the contrast of light and dark to create artworks that hold personal meaning.

Each piece tells a story, with a main character, a setting, and a feeling the artist wants to share. Their work is accompanied by a short artist statement to help viewers understand the ideas behind each piece.

Come along, support our rangatahi, and experience the creativity and depth they’ve brought into the gallery.

Open daily at Carlton Gallery, The Arts Junction, 36 Main Road, Katikati

17/08/2026

This is your last week to experience this gorgeous exhibition! Finshes Sunday the 23rd at 2pm.

Our tamariki have poured their hearts into creative works expressing what Peace means to them.

We’re also honoured to showcase Jeff Brown’s photography — a fundraiser for Matahui Primary. Jeff is an international photographer with over 200 magazine covers to his name. Come support local kids and enjoy world‑class art.

The Carlton Gallery
The Arts Junction
36 Main Road
Katikati

10/08/2026

Tūmanako! - Children's Art Works for Peace at the CARLTON GALLERY

We are very proud to exhibit Tūmanako, the Children and Youth Art programme for a Peaceful World.

This exhibition is heart warming and beautiful.
Dates: 10th August 2026 to 23rd August 2026
Location: Carlton Gallery, The Arts Junction, 36 Main Road, Katikati

TŪMANAKO!

Tūmanako! (meaning Hope!) is an annual art exhibition for tamariki/children and taiohi/young people to create works of art to share their aspirations for a peaceful, inclusive and nuclear free world in remembrance of Hiroshima Day. At a time of unrest and divisiveness, Tumanako! enables tamariki and taiohi to learn about the root causes of violence and promote peace.

The exhibition was originally launched in 2015 in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington to commemorate Hiroshima Day. The event has since grown and has been held across Aotearoa, including Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, Wairarapa, Hutt City, Timaru, Dunedin and Queenstown.

We can't wait to see all the children's and young people's creativity and engagement in the coming year's events.

Come and celebrate the young artists' success.