Let’s kick off Hamilton Pride Month with a bold after-dark celebration you won’t forget.
End Pride Week on a high note with food, entertainment, and a market that celebrates queer creativity.
Curated to align with Hamilton Pride 2026, the exhibition showcases the work of ten queer and takataapui artists whose art engages with time. These range from recent NCAA winner Zena Elliott’s trans-microbot installation ‘Hinekahurangi AKL-780’ and choreographic artist val smith’s installation ‘TRUSS’, to Neke Moa’s works of adornment ‘Ko te aroha noa’ and ‘Ngāti’, to Shannon Novak’s AI-altered digital photographs (originally drawn from the Collection of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery and painstakingly modified). Diana Lee-Gobbit, a Suffolk-born multimedia artist is represented by the earliest pieces in the exhibition, three works on paper with futuristic and science fiction themes created in the 1980s. Alongside local artist Elliott, other Kirikiriroa Hamilton artists include 2023 Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation Springboard recipient Tia Barrett, as well as Kelly Joseph, Nadia Gush and Kahurangiariki Smith. Former Wintec lecturer Lisa Benson is also represented in the exhibition.
The exhibition is curated by Drs Cassandra Barnett, Zena Elliott, and Nadia Gush. It is open 9am - 4pm weekdays, at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts gallery, University of Waikato. An artist talk will be held on 15 April at 11am, and a taonga puoro performance will be held on 16 April 6pm. All are free to attend.
“Inclusion and acceptance are paramount to me. I stand with our LGBTQIA+ Takataapuhi and Rainbow Community, ensuring support for all, regardless of ability, disability, culture, or background, both now and in the future.”
