Sculpture Trail Brings Captivating Large-Scale Art To Central Auckland

This article originally appeared on Mindfood, April 2025.

A new sculpture trail is in place across downtown Auckland, bringing large scale works to the Viaduct Harbour as part of the lead up to the Aotearoa Art Fair.

The Aotearoa Art Fair (formerly Auckland Art Fair) returns to the city from the 1st-4th of May, 2025.

The country’s top annual showcase of contemporary art, the fair features some of the best works from around the country as well as Australia and beyond. With artworks by emerging and established artists from leading galleries, it’s a key event on the cultural calendar. Previously, the art fair has generated millions of dollars in sales for participating galleries and their artists.

This year’s event includes hundreds of works from 45 galleries, including 14 international exhibitors.

Wandering among the nine works in the public Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail, a new addition this year, offers the opportunity see a selection of large-scale pieces in open-air settings.

Each has been placed to help make the featured artist’s works accessible to locals and aims to further the dramatic effect of each design. The works will remain in place until the 16th of May.

Each is situated around the Viaduct Harbour, including one head-turning piece, by internationally acclaimed Māori artist Lisa Reihana, floating on the water itself.

Part of Reihana’s Kura Moana Series, the majestic 15-metre wide floating cephalopoda draws from the powerful Māori myth of the giant female octopus Te-Wheke-a-Muturangi, who is pursued across the Pacific and ultimately slain by the legendary Polynesian navigator, Kupe. She is hand-painted in maze-like lines inspired by Reihana’s contemporary Māori weaving patterns, the vivid reds symbolising the blood spilled when the creature was defeated.

Visitors can scan an on-site QR code near the installation to listen to the full story of Te Wheke’s epic journey.

The trail also features newly commissioned work from leading artists such as David McCracken, Anton Forde, Gregor Kregar, Oliver Stretton-Pow and Ben Pearce. With the support of Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf, key work by Lonnie Hutchinson, Seung Yul Oh and a new work by Tongan artist Sēmesi Fetokai Potauaine are also highlights.

“Our vision for the Aotearoa Art Fair has always extended beyond the walls of the main event,” says Sue Waymouth, Fair Director of Aotearoa Art Fair.

“While the Fair serves as a vital commercial event for galleries and artists, we’re equally committed to building cultural experiences that engage the wider public. The Sculpture Trail – made possible through the generous support of Viaduct Harbour – reflects that ambition. It’s about breaking down barriers to art and creating opportunities for all Aucklanders and visitors to experience the richness of contemporary practice in their everyday surroundings.”

Alongside the nine main works installed across Viaduct Harbour from 16 April, two additional sculptures by Brett Graham and Professor Robert Jahnke will be installed at the entrance to the Aotearoa Art Fair, held at the Viaduct Events Centre, during the four-day event.