Residencies

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre has hosted a successful residency programme since 1995, inviting artists and curators from Aotearoa and beyond to stay in Ngāmotu to develop new work.

Both artist and curator residencies make an important contribution to the Gallery and its story, enabling us to extend and elevate our programming and production, and to actively engage with the national and global art and curatorial communities.

We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of Creative New Zealand in our ability to offer the residencies. All residency programmes are by invitation only.

Artist residencies

The New Zealand Artist in Residence programme runs yearly each residency up to three months in duration, though this can be split into several periods in Taranaki. The International Artist in Residence runs in alternate years for one to three months’ duration. 

The programme supports a full range of professional practice, including dedicated time for research and exhibition opportunities. Networking and exchange with local artists, iwi and hapū, communities, curatorial staff and the public are enabled through collaboration and conversations. For international residents, visits to other main centers and institutions throughout Aotearoa New Zealand is also a central component.

Past residencies have enabled artists to produce a wide range of outputs spanning artist monographs, site-specific installations, exhibitions and lecture circuits.

Aotearoa / New Zealand and International Artists in Residence:

  • 2023
    • Simon Ingram (NZ)
    • Maureen Lander (NZ)
    • Shannon Novak (NZ)
  •  2022
    • Alex Monteith (NZ)
    • Edith Amituanai (NZ, Samoa)
  • 2021
    • Yona Lee (NZ)
    • Meg Porteous (NZ)
    • Sorawit Songstataya (NZ)
  • 2020
    • d harding (Australia)
  • 2019
    • Brett Graham (NZ)
    • Nicolás Paris (Colombia)
  • 2018
    • Yuichiro Tamura (Japan)
    • Sriwhana Spong (NZ/UK)
  • 2016
    • Ruth Buchanan (Berlin/NZ)
  • 2015
    • Anthony McCall (UK/US)
  • 2013
    • Reuben Paterson (NZ)
  • 2012
    • Maddie Leach (NZ)
  • 2011
    • Shilpa Gupta (India)
    • Allan Sekula (US), 
  • 2010
    • Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan (Australia)
    • Dane Mitchell (NZ)
    • Fiona Jack (NZ)
  • 2009
    • Jin Jiangbo (China)
    • Javier Téllez (Venezuela)
  • 2008
    • Liz Allan (NZ)
    • Jayce Salloum (Canada)
  • 2007
    • Francis Upritchard (NZ/UK)
  • 2006
    • Gabriel Kuri (Mexico)
    • David Hatcher (NZ/US)
  • 2005
    • Saskia Leek (NZ)
    • Lee Bul (Korea)
    • Ann Shelton (NZ)
  • 2004
    • Noboru Tsubaki (Japan)
  • 2003
    • Mladen Bizumic (Serbia/NZ)
    • Sam Durant (US)
  • 2002
    • Brendon Wilkinson (NZ)
    • Pae White (US)
  • 2001
    • Joyce Campbell (NZ)
    • Peter Robinson (NZ)
  • 2000
    • Jessica Bronson (US)
    • Mike Stevenson (NZ/Germany) and Steven Brower (US)
  • 1999
    • Domenico de Clario (Italy/Australia)
  • 1998
    • Esther Leigh (NZ)
  • 1997
    • Callum Morton (Australia)
    • Yuk King Tan (Australia/NZ/Seoul)
  • 1996
    • Ronnie van Hout (NZ/Australia)
    • Kristy Gorman (NZ)
  • 1995
    • Kathy Temin (Australia)
    • Luise Fong (Malaysia/NZ)


Curators in Residence

Our International Curator in Residence programme was established in 2013 and generally runs in alternate years for one month. Initial residencies focused on connecting the work of Len Lye with the international film community, through a focused Film Curator in Residence, managed by Len Lye Curator Paul Brobbel. More recently, Curators in Residence have had a wider focus on the issues and content relevant to the Gallery, its programme and its audiences.

Curators in Residence

  • 2022
    • Maia Abraham (NZ)
    • Elle Loui August (NZ)
    • Amy Weng (NZ)
  • 2021-22
    • Ruha Fifita (Tonga) - ongoing Curator-at-Large from 2022
  • 2017
    • Erika Balsom (UK)
  • 2015
    • Kathy Geritz (US)
  • 2013
    • Philippe-Alain Michaud (France)