My background in directing for theatre informs my curation style. I am interested in the narrative created by artworks interacting within a gallery space. I’m excited to share here a selection of my favourite curation projects.
IMPRINT – Contemporary NZ Printmakers Showcase
Square Edge Community Arts, Palmerston North, 30 April to 24 May 2025
Following our successful show at Academy Galleries in 2024 Imprint: Contemporary Printmakers Showcase it was wonderful to have the opportunity curate the exhibition again, this time at the delightful Square Edge Community Arts gallery in Palmerston North.
Imprint endeavours to showcase high quality printmaking across a range of techniques and styles. The selection of final works were curated into an exhibition that considered different techniques and styles, as well as the merit of both individual works and collections. Showcasing contemporary New Zealand printmaking was once again a key aim of the show, with participating printmakers all residents of Aotearoa New Zealand.
In 2025 the opening event was complemented with free workshops and demonstrations delivered by participating artists, providing an opportunity for members of the public to enjoy a taste of the magical art form of printmaking and talk to printmakers about their work. Experienced printmakers were on hand, to share their knowledge and skills through ‘Have-a-Go’ printmaking workshops, and printmaker demonstrations and talks. This was made possible thanks to generous Creative Communities funding from Palmerston North City Council and Creative New Zealand.
Following the workshops, artist talks and demonstrations there was a Prizegiving Function to celebrate this year’s exhibition. Heartfelt thanks to Gordon Harris Art Supplies, Liquidtex and Jacquard for their generous prizes.
2025 Artists: Carrie Carey, Denise Durkin, Gabrielle Fawkner, Nicki Frances, Mark Graver RE, Peter Gunn , Graham Hall, Simon Holmes, Josef Kieninger, Hamish Macaulay, Jolene Maciak, Rosemary Mortimer, Sarah Nightingale, Mark Alister Raymer, Gaby Reade, Kathy Reilly, Nicol Sanders-OShea, Kate Steiner, Patrick Tyman, Kirsty White
Curators: Jen Wiggle & Hamish Macaulay
IMPRINT – Contemporary NZ Printmakers Showcase
NZ Academy of Fine Arts, 20-31 March, 2024
Imprint – Contemporary NZ Printmakers Showcase brings together a group of accomplished New Zealand printmakers exploring the many forms of this age-old medium. From traditional
techniques such as etching, linocut and Gyotaku through to contemporary processes including
screen-printing, gel plate printing and collagraph, these 11 artisans display work created at the
forefront of contemporary printmaking in NZ currently.
“This show celebrates the fine art of printmaking. We are excited to bring together these artists in
a celebration of their skill and love for this art form.”
Jen Wiggle & Hamish Macaulay, Imprint curators.
Sharing 20 meters of white wall in LightSpace Gallery, this group of artists imbue their skill and
passion for printmaking in an exhibition that showcases to the public the breadth and variety of
printmaking styles and techniques.
Opening Function on 21 March, 5 to 7pm. Meet a number of the artists and speak to them about
their art practices and inspirations.
Artists: Anna Layzell, Carrie Carey, Hamish Macaulay, Josef Kieninger, Kirsty White, Lynne
McMenamin, Marci Tackett, Rosemary Mortimer, Sheryl Gibbs, Sally-Ann Davies, Tim Li.
Curators: Jen Wiggle & Hamish Macaulay
A huge thank you to North End Breweries, Gordon Harris and Aotearoa Art Supplies for their
generous support for this exhibition.
Amplify, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington 2023
Earlier this year I lifted my creative side from its slumber and joined with the wonderful Kate Enters, Director of ArtCan to co-curate ‘AMPLIFY’, the first exhibition for ArtCan in New Zealand, and their first in the southern hemisphere! The exhibition showcased a striking video installation collating multiple contributions from ArtCan members globally, enabling them to cross multiple time zones and bring the ArtCan community together. The video artworks were combined as a series of short films and projected in the Annex Gallery in the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington, NZ.
Set in Stone 2020
Plans for 2020 involve curating Set in Stone, my first show for the brilliant artist-led organisation ArtCan. The show was originally scheduled to take place during the summer at the lovely 44AD gallery in Bath. The gallery show has been postponed until February 2021 with a virtual pre-exhibition taking place in October. The PV and Curators talk is on 14th October. RSVP for the PV zoom link at info@artcan.org.uk
Identity, 44AD Artspace, Bath, July 2020
While galleries slowly emerge from lockdown and some still remain closed the lovely 44AD in Bath have been keeping their artistic spirits up through a series of online A to Z exhibitions. I participated in their G for Gesture exhibition with The Cover Up (below), and was delighted to be invited to curate their letter ‘I’.
I chose Identity as the theme for this show, reflecting on recent global events and the ongoing struggle of every individual seeking to understand their own identity within society at large. Is it the same in all situations? When do we alter ourselves for external perceptions? What do others see? What do we see and understand in ourselves?
The I for Identity exhibition can be viewed here. The show includes my piece ‘Through Your Eyes’.
Way of Seeing, Deptford Does Art, London 2019
In August 2019 I co-curated an independent group show with my partner Hamish Macaulay. The show sought to represent a varied selection of the artists’ work. This group of artists from different backgrounds, experiences and styles were brought together around a shared ethos of collaboration, respect and sharing. They all see the world around them in different ways, and this exhibition illustrates their way of seeing.
Jen Wiggle 