Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Explore the work of artists and photographers from the National Art Collection including Robin White, Ans Westra, Matt Pine, Colin McCahon, Tony Fomison, Maureen Lander, and Rita Angus, through videos, podcasts, and in-depth articles. Find out about favourite art works from our curators, or see what is in our collections.
Each section below will open up to reveal more to explore.
Fresh takes and new favourites. You’ll find them in Toi Art – the home of the National Art Collection.
Discover new artists, get creative in the family-friendly Art Studio, or spend time with a favourite artwork.
On now
Long-term exhibition
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga
What art does an art curator like? What makes a piece of art important? Our art curators talk about their favourite artworks and describe particular pieces in our collection.
Art is for everyone. Here we explore some of your responses to artworks, exhibitions, and our collections.
Studio portraits taken in a professional photographer’s studio – often making use of backdrops or props – were for formal, posed portraits, as well as informal, candid photographs of people, and sometimes their pets.
Read about ngā ringatoi (artists) and explore their works on Collections Online.
Watch Aotearoa New Zealand artists, ranging from contemporary jewellers to sculptors, designers, painters, photographers, and more, engage in discussions about their works and methods.
Find out about discoveries behind paintings, conservation techniques, timelapses of exhibition installations, and the best way to curate an exhibition for our rangitahi (youth).
New Zealand Sign Language Presenter Theresa Cooper signs some helpful words to know when you’re talking about art.
View art and photography exhibitions presented at Te Papa, going back to 1998.
Get them while they're young – art is not just for adults and rarified spaces. Read and listen to our tamariki and rangatahi responding to art.
Books about the national art collection, photography, biography, exhibition catalogues and more.
