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Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

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Photographer: Ans Westra

Dutch-born New Zealand photographer Ans Westra is known for her black-and-white documentary photography of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, including protests and marches, Māori communities, street photography, and industrial scenes.

  • ma_i027632.5967x4867.jpg

    Exhibition: Ans Westra 1936–2023

    This exhibition celebrates the life and work of Ans Westra, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most renowned photographers.

    Closed

    18 Mar – 17 Sep 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • A black and white portrait of a woman looking at the camera with her chin resting on her hand.

    Ans Westra, photographer (1936–2023)

    New Zealand photographer Ans Westra passed away on 26 February 2023 at age 86. Here curator of photography Athol McCredie reflects on some aspects of Westra’s work.

  • A woman with a camera is taking a self portrait in a mirror.

    Biography of Ans Westra

    Ans Westra (28 April 1936 – 26 February 2023) is one of New Zealand’s best-known social documentary photographers.

  • View of three young Māori men leaning on a wooden rail. On their left stands a young blonde woman in a St Johns uniform.

    Listen: Interview with Ans Westra

    This excerpt is from a conversation between photographer Ans Westra and Curator Photography Athol McCredie for the book, ‘The New Photography’.

    “If people didn’t want me to take the photograph they would chase me away.”
    – Ans Westra

  • A piece of beige cotton material with different coloured pieces of material stitched onto it.

    Ans Westra’s artistic needlework

    Although Ans Westra is best known as a photographer, her training was in artistic needlework. She studied towards a Diploma in Art and Craft teaching at the Industrieschool voor meisjes in Rotterdam from 1953 to 1957. It was during those studies that she produced these needlework samples which demonstrate a range of artistic influences, stressing the connection between fine art and craft.