Between 16th April to 14th May, Viaduct Harbour’s iconic waterfront will be transformed into an expansive outdoor gallery as it plays host to the inaugural Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail — a major new public art initiative showcasing large-scale works by leading contemporary artists from across Aotearoa.
Spanning the Viaduct Harbour promenades and open spaces, the trail presents a curated selection of new and recent works, thoughtfully sited to invite reflection, connection, and conversation. Among the highlights is Te Wheke-a-Muturangi by internationally acclaimed artist Lisa Reihana — a majestic 15-metre floating sculpture inspired by Māori cosmology and part of her Kura Moana series. Presented with the support of Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert and Auckland Council, the cephalopod form anchors the trail with its scale, story, and symbolic power. Visitors can scan an on-site QR code to listen to the full story of Te Wheke’s epic journey.
Elsewhere, newly created works like David McCracken’s The Exaltation of the Radii, Gregor Kregar’s whimsical T-Rex Lullaby, and Anton Forde’s Ngā Arawai / The Waterways create moments of surprise and engagement along the water’s edge. Hard Graft Mark II by Oliver Stretton-Pow, and On a Hill at Night, Faint Music Could Be Heard by Ben Pearce, add contemplative layers to the trail’s narrative.
“Viaduct Harbour is proud to support the Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail, bringing world-class art to Auckland’s pre-eminent waterfront destination. As a place where culture and connection thrive, we’re honoured to showcase extraordinary works by artists from across Aotearoa in a setting that represents the energy, creativity, and vibrancy of our city,” Celeste Labana-Clayton, Head of Marketing & Brand Viaduct Harbour.
Presented in partnership with Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf and public art specialist Deborah McCormick, significant works by Lonnie Hutchinson (Moemoeā, A Model for Dreaming), Seung Yul Oh (Cycloids Series), and Sēmesi Fetokai Potauaine (Manuesina) speak to the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Pacific and Aotearoa practice.
Rounding out the trail, two site-specific installations by Brett Graham and Professor Robert Jahnke will welcome visitors to the Fair’s core programme (30th April — 4th May), bridging the fair’s indoor experience at Viaduct Events Centre with the wider public space.
Free to the public and open-air by design, this first-of-its-kind trail affirms Viaduct Harbour’s long-term vision to embed arts and culture into the everyday rhythm of life in Auckland.
Dates: 16th April until 14th May
