The NEW COLLECTORS GROUP SHOW invites a new generation of art enthusiasts and collectors to explore the dynamic world of contemporary art. This showcase introduces five talented local artists to the gallery, each debuting a fresh body of work that reflects their unique creative journeys. Thoughtfully curated to highlight bold and vibrant pieces, the exhibition is a perfect starting point for those beginning their art collecting journey.

Discover a diverse range of styles and mediums, from portraiture and landscapes to striking abstract compositions, each offering new perspectives and narratives. This exhibition celebrates the innovative voices shaping contemporary Aotearoa art, inviting viewers to connect with the stories behind each piece.

Join us in welcoming these five exceptional artists as they share their vision and stories in this vibrant and dynamic group show.

Judi Bagust

Judi Bagust is a multi-generational painter whose artistic lineage spans five generations, deeply rooted in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Earning her Master of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe College in 2013, her work bridges tradition and innovation, drawing inspiration from her ancestral river, Te Hoiere-Pelorus, and the whakataukī: "Kō au te Āwa, ko te Āwa kō au" (I am the river, and the river is me).

Bagust’s family legacy includes her grandfather Charles Bryant, who won a Diploma of Merit First Class at the 1925–26 New Zealand & South Seas Exhibition, and her father, Tom Bryant, a lifelong oil painter. This creative tradition continues with her daughter, Petra Bagust, and granddaughter, Venetia Wilson, who graduates with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2025, 100 years after her great-grandfather’s award.

Her work explores fluidity, rhythm, and movement through gestural mark-making, with notable series inspired by New Zealand’s birdlife and waterways. Recent highlights include a visual poem series born from an Anthony Joseph poetry workshop and a striking ink painting commissioned by The Auckland Abstract Hotel. Bagust’s 4.5-meter ink drawing interpreting native bird flight for the Naumi Hotel (2017) earned international recognition when the hotel was listed by Forbes as one of the world’s top airport hotels.

Bagust has been a finalist in numerous art awards, including the Parkin Drawing Prize and Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award. Her exhibitions, such as Ipseity – Essence: The Interior Being of Self and The Inbetween, explore identity, place, and the relationship between land, sea, and sky.

James Watkins

Born in Oxford in 1984, James Watkins emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, where his artistic journey began. In his late teens, he committed to photography and writing, winning first prize in the Golden Bay Art Awards and hosting his first solo photographic exhibition while living in rural Golden Bay and Great Barrier Island.

In 2010, Watkins moved to Australia, splitting five years between Melbourne and Sydney. Immersing himself in the contemporary art scene, he worked as an editor-in-chief, writer, and photographer. This period laid the foundation for his mixed media practice, exploring self-analysis, abstract forms, and experimental mark-making.

After leaving Australia in 2015, Watkins expanded his visual art practice during stints in Oxfordshire, Istanbul, and Paris, where he experimented with street art and honed his photographic style. In 2019, he held two solo exhibitions in London: Somewhere Between at Three Colt Gallery and Jewels for Everyone at Nam House Gallery.

Relocating to Mexico City in 2021, Watkins co-founded Casa Astrónoma, a contemporary art space, and held his third painting exhibition, Future Paradise, inspired by Mexico's vibrant colours and natural forms. Returning to New Zealand in 2024, Watkins continues to explore his passion for the natural world through painting and photography.

Kirsten Lovelock

Kirsten Lovelock is a Wellington-based artist and social anthropologist known for her evocative symbolist paintings. Originally from Dunedin, she has been exhibiting since 2003, with her works held in private collections across New Zealand and internationally. Her art draws inspiration from biographical journeys, metaphysical concerns, and the surrealist and symbolist traditions, as well as post-World War II New Zealand landscape painters.

Lovelock’s works often depict imagined worlds, dreamlike states, and childhood narratives, rendered through dominant symbolic imagery. Her artistic process is deeply intuitive, beginning with a blank board and evolving through a method often described as "auto-painting". Without premeditated concepts or fixed intentions, her compositions gradually reveal themselves, often reflecting biographical, historical, or cultural influences.

Preferring to work in series, Lovelock builds thematic and narrative depth through her collections, which privilege imagination and imperfection over realism and exactness. Her art invites multiple interpretations, offering viewers space for personal connection and reflection.

As a social anthropologist and author, Lovelock’s research has significantly shaped her artistic practice. For instance, her collection The Yellow Brick Road, a series of paintings and installations, explores anthropological readings of national identity and dominant cultural imaginaries, inspired by her time living and conducting research in the United States.

Lovelock’s paintings are celebrated for their dreamlike quality, blending symbolism and storytelling into an arresting visual language that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Aida Smith

Aida Smith is a self-taught oil painter based in Wellington, New Zealand. Originally from the United States, she has called New Zealand home for 17 years, and her evocative landscapes bridge these two worlds, creating an autobiographical narrative in paint.

Aida’s artistic journey began with black-and-white photography at age ten, followed by drawing and painting classes during her school years. However, it wasn’t until her own children were in high school that she returned to painting with renewed focus and passion.

Committed to sustainability, Aida’s practice embraces solvent-free professional oils, eschewing varnishes and mediums, and working on linen or canvas. Best known for her still life pieces, her current collection marks a departure into landscapes, where her signature warmth and softness illuminate scenes imbued with nostalgia. Her work has earned her recognition as a finalist in the 2024 Wellington Regional Arts Review and the 2025 Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards.

Leah Creaven

Leah Creaven is a textile artist based in Whangamata, New Zealand, where she creates striking rug-tufted artworks that blend organic forms with emotional resonance. Originally from Ireland, Leah’s upbringing in Galway and Dublin, where she earned a Bachelor of Design, informs her aesthetic, fusing the contrasting landscapes of urban and rural Ireland with the natural beauty of New Zealand.

Her work explores the interplay of line, shape, and colour, favoring non-representational palettes that evoke feelings and memories. Leah’s commitment to using New Zealand wool underscores her deep connection to the land, weaving sustainability into her creative practice.

Leah’s acclaimed Land Girl exhibition at the Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History earned rave reviews, and her piece Rapa Rising won the Glenda Saunders Colour Award at the 2021 Wairarapa Art Review. Her work has been featured in British Vogue and Home & Garden magazine.

In her vibrant Whangamata studio, adorned with wool in every hue, Leah fosters a welcoming creative space for her own practice and the many workshop participants who visit to learn and be inspired.

Why New Collectors?

The NEW COLLECTORS GROUP SHOW invites a new generation into the exciting world of art collecting featuring a dynamic selection of works by both emerging and established artists.

The show features an outstanding lineup of artists: Judi Bagust, James Watkins, Kirsten Lovelock, Aida Smith, and Leah Creaven. Their works showcase the diversity and vibrancy of contemporary Aotearoa art, for what promises to be an exciting and memorable experience. This exhibition celebrates the evolving dialogue between contemporary artists and collectors, fostering meaningful connections with the artists and a deeper appreciation for the stories behind their work.

Whether you're an experienced collector or purchasing your first piece, you'll find a thoughtfully curated selection designed to inspire confidence in your choices.

Opening Night: Thursday February 20, 5pm
Exhibition Duration: February 20 - March 8
Location: 182 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland