Creatives across every discipline are bound by universal themes — such as transformation, memory, and the search for meaning — that transcend style. As Föenander Galleries’ Spring/Summer Edition exhibition arrives, the subtle threads connecting eight distinct New Zealand artists become more apparent. Though each artist’s approach is strikingly different, their work resonates with shared philosophical commonalities.
From November 19th through December 3rd, the turn of the seasons will usher in a highly anticipated new showcase at the acclaimed Parnell space. Following the gallery’s much-lauded participation in the Melbourne-based Spring 1883 Art Fair, a follow-up exhibition will present a tightly curated body of work, featuring pieces by some of the country’s most innovative practising artists. Including select work by Tangaroa Birch, Andrea Bolima, Lottie Consalvo, Nick Herd, Monique Lacey, Roger Mortimer, Monica Rani Rudhar, and Jess Swney, the forthcoming exhibition marks a significant collaboration between Jess Swney and Roger Mortimer.
Though varied in form and vision, the works pulse with a shared sense of emotional and philosophical curiosity. For many of the artists involved, this exhibition feels like a homecoming, a collective journey into desire, tradition, longing, and loss. Together, they unravel memories both real and imagined, reaffirming art’s unique ability to hold space for transformation.
Among the highlights, Sydney-based expressionist Nick Herd animates the canvas with his signature tactile, impasto energy and lacquered application. Wabi and Sabi’s grand sunflowers evoke nostalgia and spark creative reflection, as Herd both honours and disrupts the still life tradition. Jess Swney and Roger Mortimer join forces in a visually arresting, oversized textile that celebrates Mortimer’s myth-making and cartography while scaling up Swney’s tufted rug technique to trace the subtle journey of self-discovery and societal expectation. Swney’s practice examines the intricate realities young women face as they navigate social pressures, revealing how experience and expectation often shape paths to self-assertion.
This exhibition could not be more timely. As the year draws to a close in a flurry of activity, Föenander’s collaborative showcase invites visitors to pause, breathe deeply, and reflect, inspiring gratitude for the sheer breadth of homegrown talent. The showcase radiates warmth, energy, and a sense of aliveness that defines both the season and that pivotal moment when artists fully come into their own.
Exhibition dates:
19th November – 3rd December 2025
