Allison TuckwellCreation Story: Dog of Wonderacrylic, 2025 A dog looks on in wonder at the creation of a universe. You can see more of Allison’s work on instagram. I’ve been making art for most of my life. I’ve recently arrived in Nelson after living overseas for 20 years. I currently utilise the studio space at […]
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Find out more about the opening event (Fri 12 Sept), meet-ups, workshops and walkshops (16-19 Sept) at www.artecology.net/viewports/ View Ports – (re)framing local perspectivesAn exhibition and workshop takeover of an empty urban space in Whakatū Nelson coinciding with NZIA Festival of Architecture. View Ports offers a conceptual frame for an exhibition of works by local printmakers
The perfect corner space for a series of workshops and exhibition. Many thanks to Thompson Property Group.
Alicia RochaDreamlandacrylic paint, 2024 You can see more of Alicia’s art on Instagram. Monsters from an inner landscape symbolising fears and anxieties live in this dreamland were they are no longer scary. Alicia Rocha is a self-taught artist from Mexico, who came to Nelson nearly eight years ago. Alicia started making art as part of her
In the 2025 Spring Clean, we had a number of businesses and organisations step up and do great things! There’s some examples below of what’s already happening this year: And here’s a few things that happened in 2024 – just for inspiration:
What can we do as an innercity business? Read More »
When a group of students put our the call for a venue for their Ball Op-Shop, we knew the perfect space would be right in the centre of town! Massive thanks to the property owners GB Skeggs Family Trust.
Briscoes has been gone for a while from its space in Montgomery Square, and those bright yellow walls were starting to fill up with posters and graffiti. So as part of Spring Clean Whakatū Nelson, we scrubbed down the walls, ready for the bicycle panels. And wow! They look so great!
How could we resist a bare corrugated iron fence? What’s more, we had the perfect artworks for it. We’ve actually displayed the originals of Dean Raybould’s works in a previous installation, but this time, we printed them onto metal, so they are colour- and weather-fast.
There’s a perfect spot on the side of Nelson English Centre, facing onto Church Street. Big thanks to Nelson English Centre. We hope your students enjoy meeting Appo!
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The corner of Collingwood and Bridge has a long history that stretches back way before the current building.
This is a busy little thoroughfare between Trafalgar Street and Montgomery Carpark – perfect for a display of bold bright images. Many thanks to Pascoe Properties.
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Everyone loves a library! And here at MakeShift we especially love that we’ve got two projects happening on opposite sides of the library building. One is Bill Hammond’s ‘All Along the Heaphy Highway’, as part of ArtWalk, and the other is the 2021 instalment of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
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It’s not rocket science – we all know that little actions can have a big impact. A clean, vibrant city starts with each of us noticing and caring for the spaces we share. Just by picking up rubbish and disposing of it responsibly, we help protect the beauty and integrity of our community. Small actions,
What can I do? Just me! Read More »
Consider making a donation. Think of the city as a an outdoor art gallery, with heaps of potential for artworks on every scale. Make/Shift Spaces is a non-for-profit organisation that has an ever-growing network of Nelson/Tasman artists. Your financial contribution will help make our city vibrate with original artworks and creativity. In 2024, NEL cleaned
Want to help but don’t have the time? Read More »
Our Angel Gardeners are back in 2025! In 2024, we had a group of volunteers who committed not only to help with some planting, but to do some occasional upkeep. We planted flowers in the big blue pots at the bus station, as well as edibles at some kerbside gardens. It’s pretty obvious that a
Hey – are you a property owner with graffiti giving you a headache? We can help! Russell at Make/Shift Spaces is an absolute whizz at matching colours to the exisiting surface. He can make that graffiti magically disappear in no time at all. Make/Shift Spaces will invoice you for our efforts at a reasonable rate.
Emily NarbeyNgā Rau o Aotearoa (Leaves of Aotearoa)acrylic paint, 2025 Emily Narbey has given us a little patch of nature in the innercity. I’m not sure where the inspiration for this work came from… back in 2022 my dad’s cancer was diagnosed as terminal and I guess as a kind of parting gift he got
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Rachel Promthat’s tasty creation has the perfect home in Nelson’s own ‘eat street’. Rachel has painted a delectable dish of Tom Yum noodle soup, as it is one of Thailand’s most popular dishes. The artwork is not just about Thailand’s signature dish, but it also reflects Thai identity. My inspiration for this artwork is that I
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Being a part of this project was great. I had a lot of fun drawing and painting it. It was a bit challenging because of the bumps on the power box but I made it work. Patience is the key! Originally from Colombia, David George Garcia came to New Zealand abut ten years ago for
Mark Fa’avaeNelsonUntitledacrylic paint, 2025 Mark Fa’avae is a Samoan-born Nelson artist who has exhibited locally and nationally. Huge thanks to NEL (Nelson Electricity Limited) for supporting our artists to transform their boxes! And thanks too, to Matty Anderson for introducing us to Mark.
Samara Davis Ngati Koata, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Kuia, Ngati Tama, Ngati Rarua, Te AtiawaKoha nga Kupuacrylic paint on board, 2022 Kai I ngā Ora To feed life or feed from life A reciprocal relationship and slogan that came from a group exhibition at Refinery ArtSpace, Kai I ngā Ora, which was a response to the housing crisis.
Alicia RochaMi amigo Axolotlacrylic paint, 2025 You can see more of Alicia’s art on Instagram. I believe art can deepen our understanding of ourselves and others, makes us heal and subsequently the world we live in. My paintings are a reflection of my inner landscape where creatures go through a transmutation to become a friendly totem
Richard SellarsRollerdoor Muralacrylic paint, 2024 As part of Spring Clean Whakatū Nelson, ArtHouse Architects commissioned Richard Sellars to create a mural that would transform their laneway. The roller door was looking pretty manky before Richard took it from graffiti to oh-so-cool! It’s a stunner! Richard Sellars is a Nelson-based artist and architect. Read a great
Amy AdamsFlamboyant Flowersacrylic paint, 2025 “This floral design captures Nelson’s vibrant and artistic spirit, reflecting the joyful atmosphere of our community.” Amy Adams is an artist whose creative journey began in childhood, evolving from crafting miniature doll worlds to creating large-scale paintings and mixed media pieces. This lifelong passion has shaped her artistic vision and
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Shared CommunitiesNile St ArtWallacrylic on board, 2025 In early 2025 Shared Communities decorated a wall along Nile St. featuring the word “Thank You” in almost 50 languages. Projects like this bring volunteers together, fostering new friendships and connections, and strengthening our community bonds. Led by Shared Communities’ Cultural Navigator Karolina Serrano, this mural was a
Karolina SerranoNelsonBehind the Red Curtainacrylic paint on metal, 2024 Follow Karolina on Facebook and Instagram. Inspired by the transformative power of the performing arts, this work celebrates the hidden worlds behind the red curtain. Through theatrical symbols—masks, sheet music, flowers—it pays tribute to the stories, emotions, and dreams that live within every character and every
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Barbara FrankletNelsonPecking Order2024, mixed media (door)The Sun King2024, mixed media (wall) Click here to see more of Barbara’s work, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit Barbara at her Mockingbird Studio at 6 Nile Street Nelson. Check her website to contact her beforehand. Mockingbird Studio in sunny Nelson is the home to artist Barbara Franklet. Working in a variety
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ArtWorks around Whakatū Nelson is a companion project to ArtWalk and ArtDoors. ArtWorks are original artworks around the city, on walls, electrical boxes, roller doors and other surfaces that might come available, using local artists.ArtWalk takes artworks from the Suter Art Gallery and reproduces them at a large-scale for walls around the city.ArtDoors is a series of reproduced contemporary artworks
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ArtDoors Whakatū/Nelson is an aspirational project that aims to transform around 100 of the city’s doors over a two-year period. This project connects business and property owners with local makers and creators whose artwork will transform tired or plain-looking doors and windows, adding a splash of colour and optimism to our city streets. Building on the
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