The National
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.
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
Bessie
Dark, a little brooding and faultless in its theme, Bessie is an immaculate display of fine dining in the inner city.
Lovoir Day Spa
As soon as you step inside Lovoir Day Spa at The Crossing in Christchurch, you will find yourself enveloped by an atmosphere of luxury and sophistication.
Zeek's
Everyone deserves a good lunch, and you’ll get a great one at Zeek’s. Fresh, fast and super tasty is the name of the game.
Action Bicycle Club
A specialist shop offering rentals, repairs, retro bikes for sale and an array of contemporary biking accessories.
Similar Places
Canterbury Museum
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.
Lovoir Day Spa
As soon as you step inside Lovoir Day Spa at The Crossing in Christchurch, you will find yourself enveloped by an atmosphere of luxury and sophistication.
The Tannery
Prepared to be wowed by the sophisticated one-stop-shop that is The Tannery.
Action Bicycle Club
A specialist shop offering rentals, repairs, retro bikes for sale and an array of contemporary biking accessories.