Oxford Gallery

04/09/2026

We love this popular interactive work by the Common Ground Collective for Hello Darkness. There’s still space on the board to leave your own dark musings if you haven’t already!

This weekend is your last chance to view works by Catherine Day, Nikki Ferguson-Brown, Suzanne McDonnell, Kate McIntyre and Russell Perry. Each artist has responded to darkness — to the night sky, nocturnal creatures, dreams and imagination.

Open Friday until 4pm.
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 4pm

03/09/2026

A new event is here!

Oxford Performs: 90 minutes of local talent

Monologues | Poetry | Readings | Songs | Music | Theatre | Skits | And more

A new series celebrating the amazing talent in our community.

Come along to the inaugural night:

Tuesday 29 September
Doors 7.15
Ticket link below.

30/08/2026

On Saturday night, amongst the artworks of 'Hello Darkness', Ariana Tikao performed poetry, taonga puoro, and song to a captivated audience. Accompanying her on double bass was the very talented, Theo Henderson. Here are just a few pictures from their performance.

30/08/2026

WELCOMING ENTRIES NOW for Living Portraits, a celebration of the people who make a difference in our lives. If you live in Waimakariri (or have a connection to the district), you’re invited to pick up a brush, pencil, or any medium and compose a portrait of someone special to you; whether they’re whānau, friend, mentor, employer or neighbour.

Create a picture with images or words. No experience is necessary; this is open to all ages and skill levels.

Entry Fees: Youth (age 5 – 18) $5, Adults (age 18+) $10.

27/08/2026

This Saturday night 6 - 7.30pm at Oxford Gallery. Free Entry.

Join us as Ariana Tikao brings taonga puoro, song, and poetry into conversation with our current exhibition, Hello Darkness by Common Ground Collective.

21/08/2026

Last Sunday's workshop for tamariki was called Bring the Night to Life! Artist Kate McIntyre brought along a range of interesting art materials including pigment from charcoal, rock and even mud. The group explored themes of dark skies, night time creatures and experimental mark-making, surrounded by the Darkness exhibition. Messy, creative fun! 🌙✨

Thanks to Creative Communities for supporting this workshop.

19/08/2026

LIVING PORTRAITS

Every portrait tells a story. What’s yours?

Oxford Gallery invites people across Waimakariri to make a portrait of someone who matters to them — friend, whānau, neighbour, mentor, colleague or someone else who has made a difference in their life. You don’t need to be an artist. Pick up a brush, pencil, camera, needle, clay — or use words. There are no rules about how a portrait should look. All ages and experience levels welcome. Exhibition entry fee: $5 youth, $10 adults.

Living Portraits Exhibition: 15 October – 15 November 2026
Oxford Gallery toi o Waimakariri
Start your portrait now and enter at oxfordgallery.org.nz/livingportraits

Artwork credits: Philip Trusttum, Marta Eichler, Casey Macaulay, Nikayla B**r

14/08/2026

Hello Darkness: A Performance by Ariana Tikao

Saturday 29 August | 6 – 7.30pm | FREE ENTRY

Join us at Oxford Gallery for a special evening with renowned taonga puoro practitioner, composer, writer and poet, Ariana Tikao.

As night falls, Ariana will weave a welcome to the darkness through music and poetry, drawing on her Kāi Tahu identity and her deep connection to place and ancestral narratives.

This is a rare opportunity to experience Ariana’s work in the beautiful setting of Oxford Gallery and to gather together as the light fades.

Free entry. Hot drinks provided.

Hello Darkness is the current exhibition at Oxford Gallery, bringing together the work of Common Ground Collective: Catherine Day, Nikki Ferguson-Brown, Suzanne McDonnell, Kate McIntyre and Russell Perry.

The exhibition explores darkness as a place of dreams, imagination, connection, mystery and wonder and celebrates Oxford’s spectacular night skies and its place within the Waitaha Canterbury Dark Sky landscape.

HELLO DARKNESS
6 August – 6 September 2026
Oxford Gallery

Current Exhibitions Suzanne McDonnell, The place we meet. Black ink on watercolour paper HELLO DARKNESS Thursday 6 August – Sunday 6 September 2026 Common Ground Collective: Catherine Day, Nikki Ferguson-Brown, Suzanne McDonnell, Kate McIntyre & Russell Perry Come with us, into the dark: a place o...

07/08/2026

Nau mai, haere mai! New exhibition open now!

HELLO DARKNESS
Common Ground Collective: Catherine Day, Nikki Ferguson-Brown, Suzanne McDonnell, Kate McIntyre & Russell Perry

Thursday 6 August – Sunday 6 September 2026

All are welcome to attend the official opening on Saturday 8 August, 6-8pm at Oxford Gallery.

“Come with us, into the dark: a place of dreams, imagination, connection, mystery, and wonder.”

An opportunity to mix creative experience with stargazing is offered at the official opening event tomorrow, Saturday 8 August, 6-8pm at Oxford Gallery.

All opening visitors will be entitled to a token for free entry to Oxford Observatory from 7-9pm on the night.

Images: Close-ups of works by Kate McIntyre, Nikki Ferguson-Brown and Russell Perry.