A curator’s take: Hear from our art curators

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.

Raymond McIntyre, Edward McKnight Kauffer, about 1915, oil on panel. Gift of the estate of C Millan Thompson to mark the occasion of the retirement of the director, SB Maclennan, 1968. Te Papa (1968-0002-22)

The mysterious gaze of Edward McKnight Kauffer

Who is this man with this mysterious gaze? Curator Lizzie Bisley unpacks Raymond McIntyre’s portrait of Edward McKnight Kauffer.

White painted text on black background "I am scared I stand up"

Art I’m Into: Charlotte Davy, Head of Art

“When I first unpacked this work from its travelling crate an uncontrollable shiver went up my spine.”

Art I’m Into: Justine Olsen, Curator Decorative Art and Design

“In an ideal world I would wear this necklace to a party.”

Art I’m Into: Nina Tonga, Curator Pacific Art

“When installed and backlit, the work casts thousands of shadows that envelop the viewer.”

The significance of the Dufour wallpaper

Art curator Rebecca Rice discusses the importance of the panoramic French wallpaper 'Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique' in the context of both 'Lisa Reihana: Emissaries' and James Cook’s voyages.

Dark desires: Female sexuality in art

What does female sexuality look like in art? Here, it looks like monsters, mermaids, and minotaurs…

TEAL posters – Air New Zealand’s early days

A vibrant collection of travel posters designed by Arthur Thompson in the 1950s for TEAL, the forerunner of Air New Zealand.

Is LEGO art?

Art curator Mark Stocker interviews LEGO professional Ryan McNaught. They discuss the contentious subject of whether LEGO can be seen as art.

Five things you never knew about Rodin

Art curator Mark Stocker highlights five fascinating facts you probably didn’t know about the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

Listen: Rodin – France’s Greatest Sculptor

Dr Mark Stocker's lecture explores Rodin's slow – even painful – rise to fame, the controversies he sparked, and some of his most renowned works, including The Thinker and The Kiss.