Jane Blackmore Gallery/Studio

Wellington artist Jane Blackmore’s Lyall Bay gallery is a space that feels as much lived-in as it is curated, where the line between studio and gallery blurs in the best possible way. This is not just  a place to view art; it’s where it’s made, wrestled with, and brought to life in real time.

Step in and you instantly realise it’s a deeply personal space - but one that you’re welcomed into with open arms. It’s an extension of Jane’s own world: warm but also bold; strikingly expressive yet thoughtfully put together. With an expansive glass frontage that invites stunning sea views, light shifts across the room as the day unfolds, and the ever-changing moods of the south coast seep into the walls. Some days it’s calm and contemplative; other times, there’s a charged, almost chaotic energy that fuels the works. It’s this rhythm that gives the space its unique pulse.

Equal parts working studio and refined gallery, there’s always a sense of motion and progress at the gallery. Large canvases sit mid-process, finished works hang with intention, and there’s a sense that everything here has a story to tell. Beyond showcasing Jane’s work, the space flexes easily, hosting classes, intimate gatherings, and even corporate meetings, without losing its creative core.

Visitors aren’t just passive observers, they’re invited into the process. Watching a professional artist at work, asking questions, seeing ideas evolve - it’s rare and it makes the experience feel genuinely human. Spanning landscapes, florals, and abstraction, Jane’s practice is grounded in emotion, colour, and a sense of connection that lingers long after you’ve left.