Forrester Gallery

Forrester Gallery The spectacular building which houses the Forrester Gallery could be considered the finest work in the collection.

The Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi presents varied and exciting exhibitions that regularly rotate, alongside a regional art collection that speaks to the history of te rohe o Waitaki ✨ Its history dates back to 1882 when the Bank of New South Wales purchased a plot of land next to the rival Bank of Otago, now the National Bank. The building served as a bank and manager's residence until

1979 when the Oamaru Borough Council acquired the site in exchange for a suitable location in the central business district. The local council had been searching for a suitable location for a gallery since 1965 when retired architect and former mayor, John M. Forrester left a substantial bequest for the founding of a local gallery. After significant restoration including earthquake strengthening, the Forrester Gallery was opened in 1983. Today the Forrester Gallery, which is funded and administered by the Waitaki District Council, offers the Waitaki and wider region a varied and exciting exhibition programme, houses a growing collection of artworks significant to the region, and stands as an icon of Oamaru's unique whitestone historic district. The gallery supports local and regional artists and offers national and international exhibitions in all media, which reflect and challenge community interest. The Forrester Gallery is registered as a Category 1 site by the Historic Places Trust. Forrester Gallery’s page must not be used for electioneering purposes. Any post - positive or negative - made by any individual specifically relating to their own - or someone else's - nomination, intention to run for Council or election campaign, will be removed immediately.

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨wonderlab: Make It Slow Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi3 October - 13 December 202...
31/08/2026

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨
wonderlab: Make It Slow
Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
3 October - 13 December 2026

‘Make It Slow’ is an invitation to take some time to slow down and loiter a while. Be inspired to dawdle, to ponder, be tortoise like and enjoy the many benefits of activities intended to be slow.

Image: Visible mending by Fiona Frew 2026

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨Curiosities & Conundrums Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi 3 October - 13 December 2...
31/08/2026

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨
Curiosities & Conundrums
Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
3 October - 13 December 2026

Sometimes an artwork is so peculiar you can’t quite figure it out. Sometimes you don’t need to - it entices you enough to assume your own narrative. ‘Curiosities & Conundrums’ presents a series of collected works weird and wonderful, prompting a viewer’s experience that is removed from expectation or judgement.

Image: Victoria Edin, Untitled (Nice T**s), 2024. Photo Justin Spiers

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨Peter Cleverley: Dreams are Free Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi 3 October 2026 - ...
31/08/2026

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨
Peter Cleverley: Dreams are Free
Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
3 October 2026 - 24 January 2027

The works in ‘Peter Cleverley: Dreams are Free’ form a considered response to ‘the fifty wars that are happening at the moment’. Cleverley cites the female figure as a source of empowerment, betterment, and strength – as a way forward. The title is hopeful, providing optimism and comfort during times of destruction and conflict.

Image: Peter Cleverley, World Music, 2026. Photo courtesy of the artist

✨Pānui: The warmest thank you to all artists who submitted for our July callout for proposals ✨We feel immensely gratefu...
31/08/2026

✨Pānui: The warmest thank you to all artists who submitted for our July callout for proposals ✨

We feel immensely grateful for the submissions we have received from our amazing artists across our creative motu, especially our local artists! The standards were extremely high, and we do appreciate all of the effort and care that goes into putting together a submission. We can’t thank you enough!

We received just over 40 submissions - more than we typically would throughout the year

We heard from new voices in our arts community, including artists that may not have considered proposing exhibitions to us in the past

The engagement we have received throughout this process has been immense

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We won’t be reviewing proposals until our next callout in February 2027 - you’re more than welcome to submit proposals between now and then, but please be advised we won’t be able to provide an outcome until this upcoming callout period

We understand this approach may not suit everyone, but we encourage you to reach out if you feel like you’re in this boat. We also intend to facilitate more sessions leading up to the next callout, in case artists need some guidance through the proposal process

The twice a year callout, we’re hoping will allow artists to factor this scheduling in from an administrative side of their profession and allow for added transparency + efficiency on our end

This isn’t the only time we engage with our artists, so please do stay in touch ✨

Kā mihi ki a koutou, we appreciate you all!
Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi

✨EVENT: Kōrero Toi + exhibition preview - Mahi, Toi: Part One✨Friday 21 August, 7pm Join us for a floor talk led by cura...
18/08/2026

✨EVENT: Kōrero Toi + exhibition preview - Mahi, Toi: Part One✨
Friday 21 August, 7pm

Join us for a floor talk led by curator Anna McLean, alongside exhibiting artist John Vea (Tonga, Aotearoa New Zealand)

This session will be laid back, we’ll share insights into the ideas and artworks in Mahi, Toi, followed by Q+A. This is an exhibition which celebrates the working class, while considering the intersections between work and art, and how both sustain us.

See you there e te whānau! ✨

Our Whēkau | Main Gallery is fully accessible via a ramp at the front of the gallery exterior or via a lift (Humber Street access). Please email any pātai or accessibility concerns to [email protected]

Thanks for the visit Waitaki Multicultural ✨✨
18/08/2026

Thanks for the visit Waitaki Multicultural ✨✨

Thanks everyone for tagging to enter our giveaway with our friends The Riviera Cinema Oamaru! Ferne Smyth with plus one ...
16/08/2026

Thanks everyone for tagging to enter our giveaway with our friends The Riviera Cinema Oamaru! Ferne Smyth with plus one Aurora Smyth have been drawn as our lucky winners! 💖✨

For everyone else, do go along to enjoy these four great films in the best cinema in Aotearoa! You won’t regret it!

✨GIVEAWAY✨The Riviera Cinema, Ōamaru have kindly offered us a double pass to give away on our social media for their upc...
12/08/2026

✨GIVEAWAY✨

The Riviera Cinema, Ōamaru have kindly offered us a double pass to give away on our social media for their upcoming mini art film festival! Running across August - November, the winner will be able to claim the double pass for any of the four films throughout this period 🎉🎉

To enter: tag a friend in the comments that you’d love to take with you, and we’ll draw a random winner out from all entries across our Facebook and Instagram combined. We’ll draw the winner out on Sunday evening at 8pm ✨

This giveaway cannot be exchanged for monetary value. You can submit as many entries as you like. We will not request any personal information, and the winner will be able to collect the double pass directly from the Riviera. You must be in Ōamaru to claim the prize✨

Good luck! Happy tagging!

The Riviera Cinema Oamaru

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨Mahi, Toi: Part One Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi22 August - 6 December 2026Paul...
10/08/2026

✨Upcoming exhibition pānui ✨
Mahi, Toi: Part One
Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
22 August - 6 December 2026

Paula Collier, Darcy Lange, Anthony McKee, Bev Moon, Kawita Vatanajyankur, John Vea, John Ward Knox

Mahi, Toi explores the relationship between art in work and work in art, by examining forms of visible and invisible labour. Drawing on the dual meaning embedded in the title — mahi (work) and toi (art) — the exhibition considers how creativity and labour are integrated, despite cultural and social separation.

This exhibition is part one of a wider conversation on labour and industry. It frames the working conditions associated with effort, maintenance, and care through contemporary artistic representation.

Paula Collier Bev Moon Artist Kawita Vatanajyankur

Image credits:
2. John Ward Knox, Untitled (Gillies Foundry, 2025), 2025. Courtesy of the artist
3. Anthony McKee, Ivan Emerson - Summit Woolspinners, November 1993. Collection of the Forrester Gallery & Mahika Kai Mahika Toi
4. John Vea, Section 69ZD Employment Relations Act 2000, 2019. Courtesy of the artist
5. Paula Collier, Forming Paper, Nov 2025. Courtesy of the artist

Kā mihi ki a koutou Dunedin Public Art Gallery , The Darcy Lange Estate, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision , Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, simongennard_ and Waitaki Museum & Archive - for the institutional support and loans ✨

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01/08/2026

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Address

9 Thames Street
Oamaru
9400

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 1:30pm - 4pm
Sunday 1:30pm - 4pm

Telephone

+6434330853

Website

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