Wellington Sculpture Trust

15/06/2026

Reposted from STARKWHITE Martin Basher’s ‘Big Flowers for a Wild City’ is the tenth commission for the Colin Post Four Plinths, Wellington Sculpture Trust’s biennial sculpture space located on the Wellington waterfront next to Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand.

Basher’s four vibrant sculptures depicting vases of flowers in high-key colour low-relief will be on view until 2028. Stretching almost 9m above the ground, these four monumental works are the largest work for both the artist, and the plinths. “When working with such a demanding location, says Basher, ‘I had to tackle the scale head-on…the work needed to be as big and bold, generous and tough as its environs’ Built from steel and epoxied ply, the sculptures contribute a dynamic explosion of colour on the largely monochrome plaza, and are visible from right across the inner harbour.

Basher who spent more than two decades living in New York City, relocated back to Aotearoa with a young family post-covid. His return let him see the city of his childhood with fresh eyes, and the Big Flowers were conceieved of as a gesture of love for the city. ‘This wild, dynamic town deserved a bouquet’ says the artist. ‘It’s not remotely possible to match the harbour for sheer beauty, but with these works I really wanted to give a little back to this amazing city”

Basher’s ‘Wild Flowers for a Wild City’ is on view through March 2028.

He will present a new exhibition of paintings with the Starkwhite, open from Saturday 20 June.

Wellington Sculpture Trust Public Art Wellington Powder Coating Services Martin Basher

18/05/2026

Beautiful day in Wellington today and tomorrow, perfect days for a waterfront walk!

Images taken this morning of
Len Lye’s Water Whirler, 2006 Tanya Ashken’s Albatross, 1986
Glen Hayward’s The Grove, 2022
Seung Yul Oh’s Kimi, 2025
Martin Basher’s Big Flowers For a Wild City, 2026
Michel Tuffery’s Nga Kina, 2012


  nzpublicart wellingtonsculpture nzsculpture

13/05/2026

Reposted from • 🔗In the first of his monthly columns about NZ visual art, Mark Amery takes an alpine trek, celebrates new art in Pōneke, and admires an Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki purchase.

29/04/2026

is pleased to announce applications are now open for the 2028 Collin Post 4 Plinths Project.

The successful artist receives $100,000 to realise four new works sited on the concrete forecourt plinths outside Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington.

This call facilitates selection of the eleventh commission and will be in place for two years from early 2028.

The Collin Post 4 Plinths Project provides a prestigious opportunity for established and emerging artists through the reputation of the project, the quality of the artworks installed in previous rounds and the prominence of the site, one of the most visited in New Zealand.

Martin Basher’s Big Flowers for a Wild City (pictured) is currently on show until 2028.

Previous recipients of the award are: Sabine Marcelis (2024-2026), Ben Pearce (2022-2024), Yolunda Hickman (2020–2022), Ruth Watson (2018–2020), Kereama Taepa (2016–2018), Glen Hayward (2014–2016), Joanna Langford (2012–2014), Peter Trevelyan (2010–2012), and Regan Gentry (2008–2010).

This opportunity is open to New Zealand and international artists and the artist retains ownership of the work at the completion of the project.

Download the brief at sculpture.org.nz

30/03/2026

Fibre-optic Colonnade Car Wash

Location:
Shed 21,
28 Waterloo Quay,
Wellington, New Zealand

Running times:
Weekdays:
7:00-9:00am
12:00-1:00pm
3:30-6:30pm
8:00-11:00pm
Weekends:
11:00-2:00pm
8:00-11:00pm

Super cool new sculpture in Wellington, courtesy of the Wellington Sculpture Trust, if you haven’t seen Eddie Clemens’ Fibre-Optic Colonnade Car Wash yet, go check it out, nighttime is the most dramatic.

28/02/2026

PARK(ing) Day is on now!

Cuba street is alive with all sorts of cool stuff - 10am till 5pm today -

27/02/2026

Check out how creatives transform Cuba street parking spaces for one day!

Wellington Sculpture Trust’s PARK(ing) Day is happening this today till 5pm on middle Cuba street.

Bring the family and come and see all the action for yourself.

03/02/2026

“Getting it right”, Simon Wilson’s article on Kimi/You Are Here and the successes of the Wellington waterfront in the latest Listener.


kimi/youarehere wellingtonsculpturetrust wellingtonpublicart nzpublicart wellingtonsculpture nzsculpture listener

11/12/2025

29/11/2025

Thank you Seung Yul Oh for the beautiful new sculpture and the equally beautiful words and sentiment: Reposted from the artist
Kimi / You Are Here (2025)
Stainless steel, 5.5 m tall
Commissioned by Wellington Sculpture Trust

Kimi is like a drop of thought suspended in space.
It touches the ground lightly, mirrors its surroundings,
and invites those who draw near to pause, reflect,
and trace the invisible threads that connect us to place and to one another.

Kimi는 우주에 떠 있는 한 방울의 영감처럼,
가볍게 땅에 닿아 주변을 환히 비추고,
다가오는 이들로 하여금 잠시 머물며 사유하게 하고,
서로를 잇는 보이지 않는 실을 따라가도록 초대합니다.

This project is the collective result of many hands, minds, and hearts.
I extend my sincere thanks to the individual funders, supporters, engineers, fabricators, installers, and architects for their generous support and collaboration.

Wellington Sculpture Trust sought permission to place the work in the park from both the Council and mana whenua. “We are honoured that the Ahu Whenua Trusts: Wellington Tenths Trust and Palmerston North Māori Reserve Trusts have generously presented You are Here with a name and whakatauki to enrich the work’s context and significance.

Kimi (Seek) – signifies the actions to seek, look for, delve, search or hunt. ‘Kimi horoa, kimi Horapa (seek far and wide). This whakatauki advocates for extensive exploration and the pursuit of knowledge and understanding in a broad, sweeping manner.

“It captures the notion that one should not confine their exploration to known areas but should rather broaden their search to acquire diverse perspectives, comprehensive insights, and wisdom.

I hope it brings a sense of connection to many Wellingtonians and to those visiting the city.