Ashe

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

Monday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Tuesday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Wednesday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Thursday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Friday10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Saturday10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

SundayClosed.

3/153 High St, CBD, Christchurch

Contemporary art gallery and design space, Ashe, located on Christchurch’s High Street, is a place where art and design naturally intersect. A life-long dream became a reality for owner Ashleigh Thompson when she opened the doors to Ashe and joined Ōtautahi’s burgeoning and buzzing creative scene. Ashe is where even the most novice of gallery-goers can feel comfortable coming in to browse, chat, and discover a piece that speaks to you.

Calling High Street home, the gallery has the original facade complete with windows and tiles, which adds to the character of the space, and amazing high ceilings that juxtapose an industrial feel to the space. Balancing all of this, Ashleigh has added in warm, tactile materials like timber, neutral tones and soft lighting to give a more homey feeling than your average gallery. It was a family affair when it came to the fit-out, with Ashleigh’s dad building the stainless-steel-topped counter, which they then tiled together. It’s become a focal point of the space and is a design piece in and of itself. The gallery can be accessed by entrances from both High Street and Duncan’s Lane, giving it a more open feel and connecting you to the neighbourhood’s energy.

When Ashleigh opened Ashe, her goal has always been to represent artists and makers from around Aotearoa who might not yet have a presence here in Ōtautahi. She previously spent time living and working in Wellington, managing ORA Gallery and in her time in the capital, connected with artists like Rachel Walker, whose watercolour works and prints are on display at Ashe. Ashleigh has also enjoyed building relationships with artists such as Jade Barclay and Nic Foster, whose paintings of the Aotearoa landscape bring a fresh perspective to the collection.

From visual artists and printmakers to ceramicists and sculptors, a range of artists and designers have their work showcased at Ashe. The curation of their stories, journeys, and incredible talent brings together a mix of emerging and established voices for Christchurch audiences to consume and enjoy.

Words by Julia Rutherford & Photography by Daniela Aebli

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

3/153 High St, CBD, Christchurch

Nearby Places

Rook

Modern cafe space with barista behind counter making a coffee and customers sitting at tables, in Rook.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Cafes key icon.

Breathing new life into the ground floor of Christchurch’s NZR Co Building, Rook is a sleek, hyper-modern cafe playing a pivotal role in the revival of this...

Ramen Ria

Bowl of fresh ramen with sides.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Ramen Ria has all of the flavour and fun that can be found in some of Tokyo’s most well known, yet tucked away ramen joints.

Kong

Looking into art deco style bar where a waitress is taking a drinks order from two men surrounded by panelled walls and old school artwork
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Bars key icon.

Ready to flee the 21st century for the night? We know just the place.

Ciao

Exterior of Ciao within The Welder.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Restaurants key icon.

Ciao is the kind of place that makes you want to linger, over a perfectly made negroni, a bowl of fresh pasta, or simply the feeling that you’ve stumbled across a...

Similar Places

The National

Someone looking at unique jewellery pieces on display.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Fashion key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

The National has been at the forefront of the contemporary art scene in Christchurch for over a decade.

Absolution Tattoo and Body Piercing

View of the counter at Absolution Tattoo and Body Piercing studio in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Galleries and museum key icon. Services key icon.

A contemporary tattoo and body-piercing studio in the Arts Centre.

The Arts Centre

The exterior of a building at the Christchurch Arts Centre.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
Cafes key icon. Galleries and museum key icon. Theatre and performance key icon.

A much-loved heritage hub for all things creative and cultural, Christchurch’s Arts Centre is a real jewel in the city’s crown.

Canterbury Museum

Dinosaur skeleton on display at Canterbury Museum in downtown Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Stay and explore key icon. Galleries and museum key icon.

It’s exciting times for Canterbury Museum as a major five-year redevelopment is now underway at its Rolleston Avenue site. In the meantime, a pop-up a few blocks away serves as a temporary museum space.