The National

Fashion key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.
Fashion key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

MondayClosed.

Tuesday11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Wednesday11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Thursday11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Friday11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Saturday11:00 am – 3:00 pm.

SundayClosed.

249 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

03 366 3893

The National has been at the forefront of the contemporary art scene in Christchurch for over a decade. Recently celebrating its 10th birthday, the dealer gallery specialises in jewellery and objects by New Zealand and selected international artists. While jewellery has always been at the heart of the business, The National also showcases sculptural ceramics, glass and object based works.

The gallery’s imaginative exhibition programme changes monthly. Primarily a platform for solo jewellery exhibitions, carefully curated group and cross media exhibitions and collaborations also feature. The focus is on supporting artists to create new bodies of work and engaging new audiences. The pieces are often tactile and visitors are encouraged to touch or try on.

Founded by Caroline Billing, The National first opened its doors in 2004 in High Street and has existed in a number of iterations since. After the gallery was destroyed in the 2011 earthquake, Caroline remained dedicated to providing opportunities for artists to show and the Christchurch public to view and learn about art. This meant exploring innovative alternatives to the traditional gallery format. One memorable urban post-quake pop-up project was “Host a Brooch” in collaboration with jeweller Jackie Chan.

Happily the gallery has found a permanent home on Moorhouse Ave. Fittingly the space is a couple of doors down from Chambers 241 and Ronald Mottram Framers. The vast gallery space complete with polished concrete floors is minimalistic, highlighting the pieces on display.

Words by Anna Hoetjes & Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

249 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch

Nearby Places

Objectspace at Sir Miles Warren Gallery

The sloping ceiling inside Objectspace Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Galleries and museum key icon.

Objectspace is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading gallery dedicated to design, craft and architecture.

Action Bicycle Club

Bikes lined up in a row at Action Bicycle Club in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

A specialist shop offering rentals, repairs, retro bikes for sale and an array of contemporary biking accessories.

The Beer Library

A large bar surrounded by a fridge of beers.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Bars key icon. Goods key icon.

Listen up craft beer lovers of Christchurch and beyond, if you haven’t already visited The Beer Library, you must rectify this situation immediately.

Supreme Supreme

The red and brown interior of Supreme Supreme cafe in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Supreme Supreme doesn't do anything by halves.

Similar Places

Ngaio Marsh House

A colourful bookshelf by an old bed in the Ngaio Marsh House.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Stay and explore key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

Ngaio Marsh House sits in a beautiful spot on the lower slopes of Christchurch’s Cashmere Hills.

Action Bicycle Club

Bikes lined up in a row at Action Bicycle Club in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

A specialist shop offering rentals, repairs, retro bikes for sale and an array of contemporary biking accessories.

Stencil

Leather handbags hanging in the window at Stencil.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon.

Variety is the spice of life, and you’ll certainly find something to spice up your wardrobe at Stencil.

Sophie Divett Jewellery

A close up of a woman wearing a blunt hair cut holding a ring.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon.

Stepping into Sophie Divett Jewellery on Christchurch’s Colombo Street is like entering a jewellery store of a bygone era.