“We couldn’t have exhibited Cornelia Parker in the old building, so it feels fitting to do a show that’s challenging in terms of showing off all our beautiful new space,” City Gallery director Charlotte Davy told 1News as Wellington’s City Gallery Te Whare Toi reopened its doors after a two-and-a-half-year, $12.3 million seismic strengthening project. The public venue, closed since June 2024 after being designated earthquake-prone, welcomed visitors back with a survey exhibition of works by acclaimed British contemporary artist Cornelia Parker.
Wellington City Gallery Reopens After $12.3 Million Earthquake Upgrade
The Wellington City Council funded the $12.3 million refurbishment (noted as $11.9 million plus GST by The Post) to secure the building’s structural future. The project follows the March reopening of the Central Library located directly next door. City Gallery director Charlotte Davy noted in the 1News coverage that the building’s enhanced versatility makes ambitious international exhibitions possible.
According to the NZ Herald, Davy and senior curator Aaron Lister selected Parker to help lift the capital after a challenging period defined by continuous reconstruction. Davy described the exhibition as the largest international art show held in Wellington since the Covid-19 pandemic, anticipating significant draw from both domestic and Australian travelers.
Cornelia Parker Exhibition Transforms Two Floors With Deconstructed Objects
Spanning two floors of the newly renovated galleries, the inaugural exhibition features more than 50 artworks examining destruction and reconstruction. The centerpiece installation, Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View (1991), features everyday objects suspended in a wide room around a ball of light to simulate an explosion. Parker collaborated with the British Army to blow up a collected garden shed before gathering the remnants for the piece. Additional highlights include steamrolled brass instruments, a deconstructed barn utilized in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, and the public return of Blue Shift, which has remained out of sight for 20 years.
The Post reported that other featured works include Thirty Pieces of Silver—titled after the biblical price paid to Judas Iscariot—and the immersive, red-toned War Room, which utilizes artificial commemorative poppy remnants from a factory to respond to World War I. Exhibition co-curator Dr Andrea Schlieker told The Post that Parker uniquely bridges minimalist language with rich narrative, focusing on relics and the eerie.
Exhibition Installation Unites International Loans and Local Art
Installing the exhibition required weeks of logistical coordination, involving loans from major international institutions including the Tate in London and la Caixa in Spain, alongside works drawn from private collections worldwide. To mark the public return, a free entry reopening party in Civic Square featured live music, DJs, and refreshments. The venue’s reopening establishes a new three-year plan encompassing both international and local artists, with a dedicated programme highlighting Māori and indigenous art alongside women artists. A new neon sculpture by Auckland artist Sean Keer has already been commissioned for the terrace, slated for installation next year.
Frequently Asked Questions About the City Gallery Te Whare Toi Reopening
When does the Cornelia Parker exhibition close?
The survey exhibition featuring Cornelia Parker’s works runs at City Gallery Wellington until March 2027.
What are the gallery’s operating hours for the exhibition?
The gallery is open to the public, with late-night openings scheduled on Thursdays.
How much did the earthquake strengthening cost?
The Wellington City Council funded the structural upgrades at a cost of $12.3 million, following the building’s closure in June 2024.