Art Tours and Travel NZ

10/01/2025

We are a bit late to the HNY party but here is some colour and life for you - from the garden of at his grand scaled first solo show opening today at .heretaunga

A stop around the corner at to check in on the work of

‘Through making ceramics, Tracy Keith (Ngāpuhi) explores a vast realm of connections between people and te taiao (the natural world). In Remember Industry, Keith looks to the whakapapa of natural materials like clay and timber that have shaped human lives, meaning, and livelihoods.’


Maioha Kara (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Tipa, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Tūhourangi, Te Whānau a Hinetapora, Kuki Airani) is deeply interested in the interconnectedness of all things. In this exhibition of new and existing works, Kara uses whakapapa as a lens to reveal the connections between people, te taiao, and the very beginnings of creation.


‘Operating at the intersections of art, design, architecture and craft, Te Ara Hihiko “the creative pathway” is the work of Jacob Scott (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Āti Awa) and Jason Kendrick. This exhibition explores knowledge, past practices, and ways of doing things, to solve problems and find answers activating the creative spirit.’

Then a jaunt up Te Mata Peak to finish off a very quick recce.

Lastly back in Tairawhiti the year started as it should go on with some goodness at

06/12/2024

ArtTravel is pleased to let you know about our Florence and Milan tour in the pipeline for 2025.

Saturday 4 - Thursday 16 October 2025

Join your tour guide Claire Chamberlain in Florence for 8 wonderful nights discovering the cradle of the Renaissance and following the Piero Trail. Including day trips to Siena and Arezzo.

Finish with 4 nights in Milan following up with visits to more amazing museums, the Duomo Rooftop Terraces and Pirelli HangarBicocca.

An itinerary not to be missed for those looking to for an amazing art adventure in relaxed company and a fabulous guide.

Click the link below and get in touch to register your interest.

https://www.arttravel.co.nz/tours/florence-and-milan-2025

30/11/2024

A myriad of making on an Auckland meander.

Loved
at Body Buildings
Don’t forget It is The Big Clay Day Out at ASP tomorrow

Great to see friends of the and at the Portage Award at

As well as Terry Bell and and many others

A drop in to to see
And meet a couple of the makers.

has some intriguing felted objects by .aa

Two Japanese ceramicists on show at and a drop in to - diarise the 15th December for their Makers Market

Phew - there is lots going on Auckland

27/11/2024

Here is our latest ArtTravel newsletter.

Find a brief introduction to our proposed 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 in October 2025.

If thats not you, find a list of other future tours to consider, and check out some of our best images of the year.

1 place left at 15 November 2024 Join ArtTravel in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa in March 2025 to discover the art, artists and makers of these regions. You will arrive in Hawkes Bay on Tuesday morning, 4th March, for 3 nights. Here we will travel across the bay area visiting local galleries and studio...

07/11/2024

Well it is our last day on tour today.
We headed by train down to to wander the observatory and hillside. Such a beautiful place, with sun and orchard full of fruit.
Over the hill to Hakone for the Hakone Open Air Art Museum. Much cooler up here, and lots of traffic heading down.

We wrap up this tour with .collis and after two weeks of amazing experiences from Tokyo to Takamatsu, Naoshima, Kyoto and Kanazawa

Thanks to all our new friends.
See you next time

07/11/2024

Yesterday we spent the day in Tokyo. We walked the alleyways from the through Omotesando to Harajuku and the transition from high end boutiques through to retro youth and pop culture.
Always a fun day of counting hair salons and dogs in prams.

05/11/2024

We made it back to Tokyo.
Azabudai Hills for lunch and a visit to , Tokyo and the amazing ceramics of

At home for the next three nights back Kabukicho, Shinjuku and a short relax at

05/11/2024

Our last day in Kanazawa had us enjoying some fabulous weather in Shirakawa-Go. We caught a thatched roof being rebuilt - every 30 years they do this.

Finished our day in the Nagamachi Samurai area and a visit to meet maker and her amazing work at her exhibition at

An exhibition space, cafe and pottery studio nearby it is well worth a stop.

Last stop Tokyo coming up

03/11/2024

Little photo dump from a day in Kanazawa

02/11/2024

Leaving Kyoto this afternoon after a busy morning.

Firstly we visited the lovely folks at Orinasukan Hamd Weaving Museum. 2nd visit and always a treat to see the looms in action. So intricate and amazing work.

A few continued to for some beautiful pots and this work by

Then onto for a short visit.
Highlights included

Artist .eriksson.medelplana at Gallerie Neugerriemschneider, Berlin

at booth /


nishihisamatsu at
taro at

hosts Raku Kichizaemon XV Jikinyū and Kasimir Malevich

Nice end to our time here - looking forward to Kanazawa

01/11/2024

A Shigaraki day today. Home of the Tanuki sculptures

We finished with a Noribana Kiln firing at with resident studio visits. An amazing facility and a great end to our day in Shigaraki. Loved seeing the school kids get up and personal.

We started at the incredible .official before heading to the home and studio of who we last visited in 2019. As welcoming and sharing as ever. A real privilege.

30/10/2024

We left Takamatsu this morning enroute to Kurashiki - with a stop at the often missed to see the work of Japanese artist Genichiro Inokuma.
Fabulous group show based around the home.
takemura





Incredible work thank you - add it as a stop when you are out on the art islands

29/10/2024

Great day on Naoshima visiting had by all.

Chichu Museum
Art House Projects and the Go’o Shrine
Corridors of Time
Ando Museum

And some pumpkin action

28/10/2024

Great to be back in Takamatsu visiting .takamatsu
Ritsurin Garden - which our guide insisted we walk in reverse, and the city by night.
The station area is looking a bit glitzy these days.
With a great lunch set thrown in for an extra feast for the senses.

27/10/2024

Great to be back in Japan again with and .collis
We spent our first day in Ginza for a change gaining some contrasting experiences.

A revisit to the ‘Big Cat Bang’ and the rooftop garden at
The work references Taro Okamato’s Tower of the Sun, the icon of Expo 70 in Osaka, and around the corner overlooked in a small park is a work by Taro Okamato said to be the forerunner and inspiration for Tower of the Sun

Dropped into and met
And looked at the works of other crafts people from Kanazawa.
After lunch we visited to marvel at a range of items from the Tea Ceremony over the ages. The reverence with which visitors viewed the works was quite something.

We finished with a short train ride to the .art.centre.tokyo to get a shot in the arm from the work of
Big, bold, angst, prolific, covid Picasso, bridges, American Pop culture and memories.
An amazing end to a great first day.

24/10/2024

Great diversity in a short space around the Auckland Uptown Art Loop and the Ponsonby strip.

Star Gossage at
John Bailey at
Group show at .co.nz
at
Sarah Hillary in miniature at
Stevei Houkamau a

24/10/2024

A little bit of Waipu goes a long way.

Easily missed on the way to or from Whangarei
And beyond, but well your time.

Fabulous small museum of Scottish heritage,
of course,
and newly minted - drop in and meet the makers.


And much more in such a short strip.

03/10/2024

Bye bye Bologna. What a warm and welcoming city.

We finished off our visit with the Anatomical Theatre and municipal library.
We caught Ai Weiwei at Palazzo Fava,
a drop into the Medieval Museum and and the Morandi Museum - all in all a varied and richly rewarding day.

We’ll be back!