Top 5 Motueka Art Hotspots: Culture, Crafts & Galleries

Motueka, you know, it’s almost this kind of a cool town resting at the upper end of New Zealand’s South Island, yet it’s very quickly becoming known for its cool arts scene. This town is pretty much more than just a jump-off point for Abel Tasman; it has this heartbeat of art and, like, creative energy going on. Whether, in a way, you are into looking at paintings, crafts, or totally immersive cultural experiences, Motueka could be the spot for you. I will let you in on a secret – growing up, my grandad had this, really amazing watercolor of the Motueka River, so that might be why I’m sort of excited to share this guide with you. Hopefully, this can, you know, maybe help you find some cool artistic locations that you would not otherwise see.

1. Motueka Arts Council Gallery

First off, alright, the Motueka Arts Council Gallery that, in my opinion, stands out as a must-see location. Think of it as the hub for artists who are more or less from the surrounding region. Basically, they present an ever-changing selection of paintings and sculptures that highlight a pretty amazing mix of artistic styles. Like, a visit here could let you peek into the perspectives of local artists, whose art that probably shares something important regarding the beautiful scenery and special cultural characteristics of the Tasman region. You could, maybe, come across everything from traditional landscapes to abstract pieces that seem pretty thoughtful.

I remember one time visiting there during the gardens art festival (or so I think) – there was the amazing exhibition that really, clearly, stuck with me, it celebrated all the things the locals really treasured and I got to engage and converse with the local artists who crafted each piece. This gave a unique and special story for each piece and helped me engage, relate to and admire them. This is unlike any stale gallery – which helped spark my love for art that is regional and local.

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2. The Little Gallery Motueka

Afterward, The Little Gallery Motueka has its own kind of vibe that might be interesting too. A bit like its name might recommend, this space could be cute and warm, showcasing a mix of paintings, ceramics, and jewellery created by people mostly in Nelson/Tasman areas. So, too it’s almost perfect if you might be hunting for, like, a cool souvenir or a meaningful gift that kind of shows how special this region actually seems. You could almost feel the level of care each artist put into each of these special things.

Like, just the other day, as a matter of fact, my cousin found this little piece of jewellery. Like, I could never quite understand why she likes this specific little, almost kind of lame in my opinion, earring, but she finds so much happiness and, I guess, love for it in her eyes, so you just need to go to understand its amazing little trinkets they hide away there! This little gem is hidden in a very low traffic location and it feels so great that you got to support people so directly – a win, win in my books!

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3. Hoglund Art Glass

Okay, next up, if you’re interested, then I really, literally, totally, suggest going to Höglund Art Glass – a spot that totally combines craftsmanship and art like never before. Just a little outside the main town of Motueka, you can see how Ola and Marie Höglund create art out of molten glass right then and there! Their gallery showcases their bright blown-glass bits that would totally lighten any space with some color. I still have the piece from my childhood still and it’s as bright as when my mom bought it.

A long, long time ago, in some respects, I got to, you know, watch one of the artisans make this tiny glass bird, it’s just literally totally fascinating that it comes alive right in front of you from molten magma that’s ready to hurt you! I’d totally advise just, like, checking the times, and doing a little booking of the workshop tour to add a cool thing into the agenda. If not, the showroom itself, alright, it’s already worth the visit as the pieces just speak for itself!

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4. Motueka Sunday Market

The Motueka Sunday Market, yeah, it might be known mostly as a marketplace for produce and meals, but it truly brings together an amount of crafts and works made by local artists that is totally, actually, special too. Taking a stroll right through it provides a pretty neat way for someone to, arguably, engage directly with those artists. Often times they create a wide range of crafts, alright from wood carvings and jewellery right to textiles – it has them all! Plus, it makes the weekend even more special by having something to visit. A little like my favorite weekly activity in Auckland: taking a trip to the Silo Markets.

Yeah, that is that there might be that opportunity to snag this cool unique gift while helping the locals – I got my niece a painting she adores there! She can talk for days over how that piece made her realize her passion for birds – you never really realize the sort of profound influence these little pieces have over another person! So, literally, this could make a great experience overall that goes past any plain old market trip. That market’s atmosphere creates something amazing; filled with love and passion.

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5. Ariki Gallery

Ultimately, if you feel as if you wanna, kind of, step out from Motueka town for, very, more or less, a bit, yeah, but also getting pretty into art, it’s cool to take this short trip to Māpua and then discover Ariki Gallery. As a matter of fact, the Ariki Gallery exhibits wood and stone art, crafted with Maori impacts – I am absolutely keen on its heritage and would suggest for anyone to come and learn about it!. Also, because the region is home to some brilliant spots, grabbing a little snack or lunch can also go very well with this mini getaway!.

There could be those beautiful carvings or greenstone pendants all set to capture your imagination so, in that case, you should stop by and discover it! You might even grab a greenstone pendant for your loved one there. One year, after my mom told me how it resonated with her Maori history – I managed to grab something there. So too, my mom could barely withhold all the tears – she cherishes that very necklace still.

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