Women's Gallery
| Company type | Collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art gallery |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Wellington , New Zealand |
Area served | New Zealand |
| Products | Art exhibitions, educational outreach |
The Women's Gallery was an art space in Wellington, New Zealand, dedicated exclusively to showcasing female artists' creations from 1980 until 1984, managed through a collective approach.
History
In 1977, Wellington-based artist Joanna Paul launched "A Season's Diaries," a project that brought together women artists such as Heather McPherson, Allie Eagle, Gladys Gurney (also known as Saj Gurney), Anna Keir, Bridie Lonie, and Marian Evans. This collaboration inspired Evans, Keir, and Lonie to found the Women's Gallery.
The gallery commenced operations in January 1980 at 26 Harris Street, serving as a collaborative venue intended to connect women artists who often felt isolated, fostering a supportive environment centered on women's experiences. Functioning primarily through volunteer efforts, the collective managed the space. The opening group exhibition on 21 January 1980 included works by Paul, Eagle, McPherson, Lonie, Juliet Batten, Claudia Eyley, Keri Hulme, Nancy Petersen, Helen Rockel, Carole Stewart, and Tiffany Thornley. The gallery’s purpose was to elevate women's perspectives created by women themselves and to advocate for female participation in the arts.
Exhibitions frequently revolved around themes pertinent to women’s realities, such as Women and Violence and Mothers. The gallery prioritized educational outreach and advocacy above commercial sales. The Mothers exhibition achieved significant recognition; the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Allan Highet, acquired 500 catalogues for distribution across educational institutions. Curator Anne Kirker highlighted that Mothers toured nationally from 1981 and was featured at Sydney's Women and Arts Festival in 1982, thereby engaging audiences beyond traditional gallery settings.
From its inception, the gallery faced financial instability; for example, a planned nationwide tour featuring poets and musicians was canceled in early 1981 owing to insufficient funding. Between 1981 and 1982, the gallery moved to 323 Willis Street but ultimately closed in 1984 due to ongoing monetary constraints. In 1988, the publication A Woman's Picture Book: 25 Women Artists of Aotearoa (New Zealand) was released by Spiral in collaboration with the Government Printing Office. Compiled by Evans, Lonie, and Tilly Lloyd, this book featured many artists who had previously exhibited at the Women's Gallery.
The gallery maintained associations with publishers Kidsaurus 2 and Spiral. The charitable organization Women's Gallery Incorporated continued providing financial support for Spiral’s initiatives until 2005.