Exhibitions

Forthcoming

Joan Gragg
The Nuku 10 - 29 Apr 2023 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga The Cook Islands Nuku Pageant is a distinct Cook Islands cultural experience, where traditional Bible stories are adapted, improvised and performed live by village church congregations. In true Cook Islands style, humour, reverence, home made costumes, modern props and island wit permeate a lively community performance unlike any other. Any... Read more

Tabatha Forbes
The Printed Hibiscus 19 Apr - 13 May 2023 Bergman Gallery, Auckland The Printed Hibiscus is an exploration into botanical study and floral fabric history, settling uncomfortably on the stylised hibiscus as it has come to represent / misrepresent the South Pacific. The project research has taken several different turns - beginning with the flower as a botanical specimen, connecting to its... Read more

Past

Aotearoa Art Fair
Stand A7 2 - 5 Mar 2023 Auckland Waterfront The Cloud, 89 Quay Street Feature Presentation: Telly Tuita, The Immortal Tango of Love & War. Catalogue available. Group Exhibition: Mahiriki Tangaroa | Raymond Sagapolutele | Benjamin Work | Sylvia Marsters. Read more

Pride & Prejudice, Part 1
Group Exhibition 22 Feb - 18 Mar 2023 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Heather Straka | Oliver Cain | Raymond Sagapolutete | Lucas Grogan | Luke Thurgate | Sione Monū | Louie Bretaña 'Prejudice, wrote a song about it, like to hear it? Here it goes….free your mind' such is the opening lyric to US pop/soul group En Vogue's third single from their... Read more

Aotearoa Art Fair
Stand A9 16 - 20 Nov 2022 Auckland Waterfront The Cloud, 89 Quay Street Feature Presentation: Tungane Broadbent | Reuben Paterson , Nga Meka Tui Kura. Group Exhibition: Mahiriki Tangaroa | Benjamin Work | Telly Tuita | Nina Oberg Humphries | Shannon Novak | Sēmisi Fetokai Potauaine | Heather Straka | Gavin Jones | Raymond Sagapolutele |... Read more

Sylvia Marsters
E Moemoe'a Naku - A Dream of Mine 29 Oct - 26 Nov 2022 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Opening Speakers: Marilyn Kohlhase, Pacific Arts Patron Sylvia Marsters, Artist Sylvia Marsters - E Moemoea Naku, A Dream of Mine, brings the artist's practice full circle as lush tropical Hibiscus paintings are presented alongside her iconic Gardenia canvases. For much of her youth, the artist was thrilled with tales of... Read more

Raymond Sagapolutele
Aua E Te Fefe - Don't Be Afraid 24 Sep - 22 Oct 2022 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Opening Speakers: Fatu Feu’u, Artist, Patron/Founder – Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust Raymond Sagapolutele, Artist 'When I was a lot younger I was struck by an image in a book of a person using a skull as a pillow. The use of the skull in such a utilitarian way stayed... Read more

Benjamin Work
To'a Motu 27 Aug - 17 Sep 2022 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Opening Speakers: Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, Professor 'Okusitino Māhina Benjamin Work, Artist Throughout history Tongan warriors were the vanguard of many conflicts across Moana Oceania, for centuries warriors were often hired by chiefs of other islands with blood ties to Tonga, for their wars and internal conflicts. TO'A MOTU - or Island Warrior,... Read more

Billy Apple
New York Rainbows 16 - 31 Aug 2022 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga New York Rainbows is a tribute to Apple’s ground-breaking solo exhibition Neon Rainbows, first shown at Bianchini Gallery in New York City, 1965 which was credited with being one of the first to treat electric light as a new sculptural medium. Taking the rainbow as its central motif, this show... Read more

Telly Tuita
Tongpop Cornucopia 23 Jul - 20 Aug 2022 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Opening Speakers: Jeremy Hansen, Marketing Project Manager, Britomart Telly Tuita, Artist Tuita's Tongpop universe is a compelling narrative, interconnecting and mashing different cultural myths and histories. Legends of foreign cultures intrigue him, they reflect stories of extreme human behaviour. His staged tableaux vivants are alive with allegorical hints.'Dora the Explorer'... Read more

Fa'atasi
Group Exhibition 11 Jul - 6 Aug 2022 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Fatu Feu'u | Andy Leleisi'uao | Raymond Sagapolutele Opening Speaker: Dr Tearikivao (Kiki) Maoate, President, Pasifika Medical Association Fa’atasi (together) unites Samoan artists Fatu Feu’u, Andy Leleisi’uao and Raymond Sagapolutele. Feu’u, often referred to as the godfather of Pacific contemporary art was the Creative New Zealand artist in Residence to... Read more

Te Atuitanga - Between our Cloak of Stars
Group Exhibition 25 Jun - 16 Jul 2022 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Mahiriki Tangaroa | Telly Tuita | Sylvia Marsters | Andy Leleisi'uao | Benjamin Work | Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka | Michel Tuffery | Raymond Sagapolutele | Nina Oberg Humphries Bergman Gallery Opening Exhibition Opening Speakers: Caren Rangi, Chair, Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Ben Bergman, Gallery Director Hon. George... Read more

Mahiriki Tangaroa
Kaveinga - Angels of the Ocean 23 Apr - 27 Nov 2022 Personal Structures Room 4, Palazzo Bembo Venice Operning Speakers: Ben Bergman, Project Curator Nicholas Constantini, Manager, Cook Islands Tourism, Southern Europe Sara Danieli, Head of Art, Personal Structures Cook Islands artist Mahiriki Tangaroa presents a site specific series of new paintings for Personal Structures entitled Kaveinga - Angels of the... Read more

Sylvia Marsters
Utopia 16 Aug - 10 Sep 2021 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Teresa Manarangi - Trott, Keynote Sylvia Marsters, Artist Since 2004, Sylvia Marsters' flower compositions have propelled viewers into a dimension of Island fantasy. Magnificent Gardenias are ever-present in the islands of the Pacific and they surrounded her growing up in Auckland. They were a personal connection, emblematic of... Read more

Joan Gragg
Underneath the Mango Tree 24 Mar - 23 Apr 2021 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Teina MacKenzie, Keynote Joan Gragg, Artist Mango trees, like their famous palm tree counterparts in Pacific folklore, are a quixotic icon of Island fantasy, their imposing physical stature and delicious, fragrant fruit have few equals. It was the song 'Underneath the Mango Tree' that drifted through that celebrated... Read more

Auckland Art Fair
Stand B8 24 - 27 Feb 2021 Auckland Waterfront The Cloud, 89 Quay Street Feature Presentation: Sylvia Marsters, Introspective Group Exhibition: Mahiriki Tangaroa | Raymond Sagapolutele Sylvia Marsters | Introspective Born & raised in Aotearoa, artist Sylvia Marsters is of Cook Islands descent and Gardenias have long been a subject close to her heart. She states,... Read more

Mahiriki Tangaroa
In a Perfect World 28 Oct - 14 Nov 2020 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Garth Henderson, Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance & Economic Management Mahiriki Tangaroa, Artist This collection of work came about unintentionally in response to the recent Covid-19 pandemic. It was in early February 2020, that the idea to stage an exhibition was decided, however, the thematic approach and visual... Read more

Digital 3, Retro Ed.
Group Exhibition 16 Mar - 2 May 2020 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga In 1979, Video Killed The Radio Star became a worldwide radio hit for British new wave synth pop band The Buggles. The infectious dance tune was a powerfully nostalgic ode, recognizing that the culture and standards of the past were being erased within the rapid rise of a new ‘disposable’... Read more

Andy Leleisi'uao
A Diasporic Pulse of Faith & Patience 4 Nov 2019 - 15 Feb 2020 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Francis McWhannell, Curator - Fletcher Trust Collection. Andy Leleisi'uao, Artist. 'The series is immediately recognisable for its forms in silhouette, created by brush and hand (Andy likes to speak of his fingerprints being all over his works). The majority are in black and bordered by a misty halo... Read more

Billy Apple
Billy Apple in Rarotonga 27 Aug - 7 Sep 2019 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Billy Apple®, Artist John McCormack, Director, Starkwhite, Auckland At the invitation of Bergman Gallery and with support from his Auckland art dealer, Starkwhite, Billy Apple® presents an exhibition in Rarotonga for the first time. His works are drawn from two of his signature series' - From the Collections... Read more

Mahiriki Tangaroa
Earth, Wind & Fire...Irrespective of Place 22 Jul - 17 Aug 2019 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Tina Browne, Leader of the Opposition | MP for Rakahanga Brett Porter, Director, TOA Petroleum Mahiriki Tangaroa, Exhibiting Artist The concept for this exhibition developed when national discussions re-emerged about a proposed name change away from the Cook Islands or its local vernacular 'Kuki Airani'. As an advocate... Read more

Auckland Art Fair
Stand A11 1 - 5 May 2019 Auckland Waterfront The Cloud, 89 Quay Street Group Exhibition: Mahirki Tangaroa | Mark Cross | Andy Leleisi'uao | Benjamin Work From his Wallace Arts Trust Paramount award residency at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York, undertaken July-November 2018, Andy Leleisi’uao will debut his series, A Diasporic... Read more

Sylvia Marsters
Tiare Taina 28 Mar - 18 Apr 2019 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Maria Henderson, Turi Mataiapo Sylvia Marsters, Artist Gardenias have long been a subject close to the heart of Sylvia Marsters. The artist has painted them in increasing detail through out her career. Richly scented, with a full white petal bloom, they evoke a sense of warm climates, sea... Read more

The Big Blue
Group Exhibition 1 Dec 2018 - 15 Jan 2019 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Lucas Grogan | Mark Cross | Mahiriki Tangaroa | Andy Leleisi'uao | Reuben Paterson The Big Blue, a group exhibition at Bergman Gallery, captures what blue can be, the ever present hue and its many faces. 'The concept for the show came from Andy Leleisi'uao's Harmonic Island five panel work... Read more

MPA1
Group Exhibition 20 Oct - 24 Nov 2018 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Andy Leleisi'uao | Julian Hooper | Mahiriki Tangaroa | Sylvia Marsters | Brendan Kitto | Raymond Sagapolutele | Benjamin Work | Mark Cross | Reuben Paterson | Nanette Lela'ulu | Michel Tuffery | Tungane Broadbent Opening Speakers: Peter Marshall, New Zealand High Commissioner, Cook Islands Mahiriki Tangaroa, Artist The Pacific... Read more

Matthew Payne
Infinite Horizon 3 Sep - 6 Oct 2018 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Fiona Turner, Winemaker, Tinpot Hut Winery Matthew Payne, Artist Shannon Saunders, CITC The magnetic Island scenery and atmosphere of Rarotonga is well regarded. Sunny beaches, protected blue lagoons and waving coconut trees, it is the idyllic South Sea paradise that has captured 44 years of modern tourism and... Read more

Kay George
Years of Colour, 1988 - 2018 21 Jul - 25 Aug 2018 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers Kay George, Exhibiting Artist Gaye Whitta, General Manager, CITC Joan Gragg, Artist. Kay George is a textile artist and painter, born in Rotorua, New Zealand. For the last thirty years Kay has been based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, regularly showing her work in local and international exhibitions. Kay... Read more

Auckland Art Fair
Stand D4 23 - 27 May 2018 Auckland Waterfront The Cloud, 89 Quay Street Bergman Gallery is delighted to pair represented artists Sylvia Marsters and 2017 Wallace Award Paramount prize recipient Andy Leleisiúao in a site specific painting presentation at the 2018 edition of the Auckland Art Fair. Marsters will debut a brand new format of Gardenia... Read more

Andy Leleisi'uao
Mangere Aroha 8 Mar - 4 May 2018 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Rt. Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand & Minister of Arts Culture & Heritage Andy Leleisi’uao, Artist Anthony Wright, Director Canterbury Museum If you alphabetically consider all the first lines of Emily Dickinson's poems, the very last one asks, You've seen balloons set, haven't you? I... Read more

Andy Leleisi'uao & Benjamin Work
Return to Havaiki 9 Oct - 20 Nov 2017 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Sir James Wallace, Director, Wallace Arts Trust Ben Bergman, Director, Bergman Gallery Samantha Beckett, Deputy New Zealand High Commissioner, Cook Islands Today the world is at an ideological precipice. While the Middle East is rife with tribal, religious and geo/political power struggles, America is bamboozled by political and... Read more

Tungane Broadbent & Reuben Paterson
Today, Tomorrow & Yesterday 4 Jul - 31 Aug 2017 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Ben Plumbly, Director, Art & Object Tungane Broadbent | Reuben Paterson, Artists This exhibition presents as a conversation between the two diverse art forms, Paterson's extraordinary glitter paintings responding to the intricate fabric Tivaivai of Broadbent. Paterson litterally shines a spotlight on this important Pacific practice. Tivaivai are... Read more

Tabatha Forbes
Ei Katu 16 May - 24 Jun 2017 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Teina Etches, Culture Tabatha Forbes, Artist 'How we see place, how it has been marked and represented in a European context (notably contrasting an indigenous perspective) and how those aesthetics flow in and out of our current understanding and experience is at the centre of my practice. Taking... Read more

Sylvia Marsters
Hibiscus Hedge 6 Apr - 12 May 2017 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Hon. Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Sylvia Marsters, Exhibiting Artist Succeeding her nine panel series, New Yorkers Don't See Flowers, VOLTA Art Fair, NYC 2014 - and her increasingly complex gardenia works for the Auckland Art Fair - 2016, Marsters new flower compositions take on... Read more

Benjamin Work
For King & Country 9 Jun - 30 Jul 2016 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Opening Speakers: Halatoa Fua, CEO, Cook Islands Tourism John Snowball, Manager, CITC Liquor Benjamin Work, Artist Can the history books be corrected? In the year of the coronation of King Tupou VI, in the Kingdom of Tonga, artist Benjamin Work addresses misconceptions around the recording of historical encounters in Tonga... Read more

Auckland Art Fair
Stand B18 25 - 29 May 2016 Bergman Gallery, Auckland Art Fair Read more

Mahiriki Tangaroa
Blessed Again by the Gods 4 Apr - 28 May 2016 Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga Mahiriki Tangaroa, Blessed again by the Gods, Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Read more

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