Ashe

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.