Gow Langsford thinks big

Auckland’s suburb of Onehunga now boasts an impressive new arts space, with Gow Langsford Gallery opening the doors of a second location there this month. The site will boast two viewing rooms, as well as artist studios and a library which will be accessible to the public.

Gallerists John Gow, Gary Langsford and Anna Jackson envision the space as a community hub, looking to promote work by not just their stable but also a range of local and international artists. The gallery has also taken pains to preserve the period features of their chosen site – a building commissioned by arts patron and businesswoman Helena Rubinstein in the 1950s – which has taken more than a year to complete.

“Finding a Bauhaus-inspired 2000 square metre building in Onehunga originally commissioned by cosmetics entrepreneur and major art collector Helena Rubinstein was a dream come true”, says Langsford. “Situated halfway between the city and airport, this building will be a great asset to artists looking to exhibit larger works or installations and is easily accessible from greater Auckland.”

A key part of the venture has been creating studio spaces, which will be grant funded and provided to promising artists.

Gow states that “this is a legacy project, and a way to really give back to the community. We have always wanted to create a space like this, and now is the time. To the best of our knowledge, there is nothing else like it in Australasia.”

The group exhibition This Must Be the Place will christen the Onehunga space, which is on show until 4 May. The presentation will include works by Gow Langsford Gallery’s Laurence Aberhart, Brett Graham, Chris Heaphy, Hugo Koha Lindsay, Reuben Paterson, and John Pule, as well as Ayesha Green, Areez Katki, Dame Robin White, Paul Dibble, Sally Gabori, Colin McCahon, and Teuane Tibbo.