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Past exhibitions Closed

The Gallery of Helen Hitchings Te Huarewa Toi o Helen Hitchings

Helen Hitchings’ vibrant dealer gallery was ground-breaking in its presentation of modern art and design in New Zealand.

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  • When | Āhea 24 Aug 2016 – 26 Feb 2017
  • Where | Ki hea Level 5
  • Cost | Te utu Free exhibition
  • Ages | Te reanga All ages

In 1949, a glamorous trailblazer opened the first modern art-dealer gallery in New Zealand. Helen Hitchings (1920–2002) was just 28 when she began promoting future icons of New Zealand art and design including Rita Angus, Toss Woollaston, Colin McCahon, and Len Castle.

Hitchings created an informal, welcoming atmosphere in her Wellington gallery. She encouraged visitors – who had seldom seen modern art and design outside of magazines – to ‘look at and feel everything’.


  • Hand block printed curtain

    Arthur Rex Dugard Fairburn, Curtain, circa 1950. Purchased 2015. Te Papa (GH017983).


    In her gallery, Helen Hitchings wanted ‘to stimulate an awareness in a simple, practical way of the principles of good domestic design’. She spent a year searching for the country’s best modern works, such as the textiles, furniture, and art to your left.

    She enlisted poet A R D Fairburn to supply hand block-printed fabrics. Inspired by Theo Schoon’s photographs of Maori rock drawings, Fairburn introduced a bright palette into the designs. Viennese-trained architect Ernst Plischke’s light, portable furniture encouraged flexible living. His harmonising of furnishings and architecture mirrored Hitchings’ integration of design and art.


  • Photograph of the gallery's interior

    Unknown, Interior of the Gallery of Helen Hitchings, 1949-1950, silver gelatin print. Te Papa (CA000124/001/0032).


  • Helen Hitchings examining pottery

    Photo News Ltd (Wellington, N.Z.), Helen Hitchings with work by Margaret Garland, R.N. Field, Timaru Potteries to Hitchings design, First work of Leonard Castle, circa 1950. Te Papa (CA000124/001/0048).


    The first Len Castle ceramic exhibited by Helen Hitchings is in the foreground of this photograph. Hitchings holds a jug she designed.


  • Ceramic dishes

    Helen Hitchings, 'Bean pot' casserole dishes, 1949. Purchased 1993 with Charles Disney Art Trust funds. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (1993-0037-3/1-2).


    Hitchings supported local potters, but also designed her own functional pieces. She commissioned Timaru Potteries to produce ovenware that was both attractive and affordable.
     

     


  • Silver gelatin print

    Bristow Mawley, Portrait of Helen Hitchings, about 1950, gelatin silver print. Te Papa. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (CA000124/001/0066).


  • Photograph of Helen Hitchings

    Photo News Ltd, Helen Hitchings inspecting a self-portrait on display in her gallery, about 1950. Te Papa (CA000124/001/0060).


    I’ve simply furnished an extremely large room, landing, and stairway with articles mainly designed and made for the project … the room has a yellow ceiling, white painted brick walls, two partition walls, of which one is dull blue and the other buff. It has grey doors, windows, and beams, and some terracotta shelving.

    Helen Hitchings, 2YA Women’s Session interview, 1950


  • Wooden chair with think black seat cushions

    Ernst Plischke, Zealandia Chair Company, W Kilby, Easy Chair, circa 1949. Gift of Dan and Emma Eagle of Mr Bigglesworthy, 2013. CC BY-NC-ND licence. Te Papa (2013-0010-1)


  • Image of painting

    Douglas MacDiarmid, Papa cliff pool with bathers, Taihape, 1947. Purchased 1993 with Harold Beauchamp Collection funds. Te Papa (1993-0037-7).


  • Oil painting of shed

    Sir Mountford Tosswill Woollaston, The red shed, Jackson’s orchard, Mahana, 1943/48. Gift of Mrs M A Hall-Kenney, 1968. Te Papa (1968-0011-1).

Discover more Kia kitea ake

  • A man stands looking at a red wall featuring paintings hung in the salon style
    Toi Art

    Toi Art

  • =""
    Dreaming of the modern – Helen Hitchings

    Dreaming of the modern – Helen Hitchings

  • =""
    Lisa Walker: I want to go to my bedroom but I can’t be bothered

    Lisa Walker: I want to go to my bedroom but I can’t be bothered

View more items

Exhibition highlights Taonga whakaatu

  • GH017983; Curtain; circa 1950; Fairburn, A. R. D.; woven cotton, hand block printed; New Zealand; Recto
    Textile Object

    Textile

    Arthur Rex Dugard Fairburn circa 1950 GH017983
  • CA000124/001/0032; The Gallery of Helen Hitchings (interior of Gallery); 1950s
    Interior of the Gallery of Helen Hitchings Object

    Interior of the Gallery of Helen Hitchings

    Unknown 1949-1950 CA000124/001/0032
  • CA000124/001/0048; Margaret Garland, R.N. Field, Timaru Potteries to Hitchings design, first work of Leonard Castle; 1950s
    Helen Hitchings with work by Margaret Garland, R.N. Field, Timaru Potteries to Hitchings design, First work of Leonard Castle Object

    Helen Hitchings with work by Margaret Garland, R.N. Field, Timaru Potteries to Hitchings design, First work of Leonard Castle

    Photo News Ltd. (Wellington) circa 1950 CA000124/001/0048
  • CA000124/001/0066; Portrait of Helen Hitchings; circa 1950; Bristow Mawley
    Portrait of Helen Hitchings Object

    Portrait of Helen Hitchings

    Bristow Mawley 1947 CA000124/001/0066
  • 1968-0011-1; The red shed, Jackson's orchard, Mahana; 1943/48; Woollaston, Toss ; without frame; colour corrected
    The red shed, Jackson's orchard, Mahana Object

    The red shed, Jackson's orchard, Mahana

    Toss Woollaston 1943/48 1968-0011-1
  • MacDiarmid, Douglas, Papa cliff pool with bathers, Taihape, 1947, 1993-0037-7; cropped
    Papa cliff pool with bathers, Taihape Object

    Papa cliff pool with bathers, Taihape

    Douglas MacDiarmid 1947 1993-0037-7
  • 2013-0010-1; Easy Chair; circa 1949; Plischke, Ernst
    Easy Chair Object

    Easy Chair

    Ernst Plischke circa 1949 2013-0010-1
  • CA000124/001/0060; Helen Hitchings inspecting a self portrait on display in her Gallery; circa 1950; Photo News Ltd (Wellington, N.Z.)
    Helen Hitchings inspecting a portrait of herself on display in her Gallery Object

    Helen Hitchings inspecting a portrait of herself on display in her Gallery

    Photo News Ltd. (Wellington) circa 1950 CA000124/001/0060
See more highlights

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Open every day 10am–6pm (except Christmas Day)

Free entry for everyone.
Charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and activities.

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Te Papa Tongarewa

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