The recent economic times and the closure and contraction of many of the country’s galleries prompted event producer Yasmin Farry (Air New Zealand Fashion Week, People In Your Neighbourhood Project 09, Co-Founder of Khuja Lounge) to create a series of ‘pop-up galleries’. The first being a weeklong exhibition, UnCommon Company.

The idea behind the “pop-up” gallery concept arose through an awareness of talent surrounding us everyday, and a realisation that much of this talent – people working under the conventional art radar – were moulding their own unique artistic language, and deserved to be exposed now to a greater audience.

The exhibition is head lined by Australian Aboriginal painter, Walangari Karntawarra.

We are fortunate to show his work in Auckland for the first time. Walangari an Aboriginal elder originally from Alice Springs, lives and works in Sydney. He is an international award winning ‘Central Western Desert’ painter and his colourful and spellbinding works lavishly recreate the traditional Dreaming Stories of the world’s oldest living culture. Walangari’s work has exhibited extensively both in Australia and internationally.

The supporting acts need no introduction to their inner circles, but they are now ready to move out from under the radar.

Glenn Heenan, a traditional painter and a recent graduate of Unitec, believes in the strength of formal painting but utilizes modern means to get to his end result. Through his training under Tohunga Whakairo (master carver), Lyonel Grant, in the traditions of the Maori art form of kowhaiwhai, he is picking up the meta-koru mantel from where Gordon Walters left off. Glenn is recognized for his groundbreaking exhibition, More Than Looking, New Zealand’s first equal access exhibition for the blind and visually impaired. This show is still currently touring and has been since its inception in 2004.

Andy Morton needs no introduction as uber Producer, musician & DJ Submariner (Feelstyle, Eru Dangerspiel, The Tornadoes, Mark de Clive Lowe, Dimmer, Turnaround) but few realise his talents also lie at the end of a paintbrush. Through his stencil work on velvet, he has created visually arresting, timeless pieces. These paintings are destined to become the collectable velvet paintings of the 21st century.

Paul Sisifo Scheuer, of Samoan/New Zealand ancestry, has always had a strong affinity to nature and all things creative. When creating he draws deeply from the natural world.

We are excited to show his latest works that bring the magic of nature into the everyday urban environment through uncommonly beautiful hand carved sculptural vessels.