Over the weekend, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School transformed into a contemporary gallery for the inaugural Toi Marsden | The Marsden Art Show.
Organised by the Marsden Parents & Friends’ Group, the event brought together art enthusiasts, school families, and visitors across Wellington for a weekend of creativity and connection, all in support of Marsden’s Artist in Residence programme.
A memorable Gala Evening
The exhibition launched on Friday with a sold-out Gala Evening, bringing together 250 guests for an exclusive opportunity to view and purchase original artworks. Ben Castle from Tommy’s, a major event sponsor, was MC for the evening and helped guide the proceedings, while guests enjoyed wine generously supplied by Peregrine and Retirement Taylor Made, canapés and live music.
A highlight of the evening was the live draw of our major raffle, featuring a brand-new MG3 car package. Marsden parent Myles Gazley drew the winning ticket, number 632, belonging to Gerard McGrath.
The raffle generated fantastic support from across the Marsden community, with students and staff enthusiastically getting behind ticket sales.
From left to right: Principal Paul Wells, Marsden parent Myles Gazley, and MC Ben Castle
Showcasing Artists from across Aotearoa
From a diverse array of submissions, the exhibition featured over 250 works by 96 artists from across New Zealand, including works by featured artists Penny Murdoch and Lizzie Pannell.
An expert panel comprising Wellington art dealer James Blackie, artist, curator, and Marsden parent Penny Murdoch, and multidisciplinary artist Tim Christie reviewed all submissions, selecting the final collection of works for their skill, originality and vision.
Funds raised from artwork sales and the Gala Evening will directly help sustain the school's longstanding Artist in Residence programme, ensuring future generations of students continue to benefit from meaningful connections with practising artists.
Supporting the next generation of artists
Each year, a practising artist is invited to work in a dedicated studio space in Marsden’s Art House, providing a unique opportunity to develop their own body of work while sharing their creative processes, skills and experience with students.
The programme offers a rare, firsthand view of how an artist develops their ideas and brings them to life, helping them gain valuable insights into creative careers while building their own artistic confidence and expression.
This year's Artist in Residence, Fleur Wickes, brought over three decades of multidisciplinary practice to Marsden. Her six-week residency saw her explore a shift from digital text to expressive painting, glyphs, and abstraction. The resulting works were exhibited at Toi Marsden, offering visitors an opportunity to see pieces developed during her time with us.
Marsden's 2026 Artist in Residence Fleur Wickes
Giving back to the wider community
The exhibition was open to the public across Saturday and Sunday, welcoming 425 visitors through the doors for koha entry. Admission donations directly support Dwell Housing Trust, who help provide affordable housing for local individuals and whānau experiencing housing insecurity.
A community effort
The success of Toi Marsden would not have been possible without the vision, dedication and countless hours of work contributed by the Marsden Parents & Friends’ Group. From planning and coordinating the exhibition to welcoming guests and supporting artists throughout the weekend, their efforts were at the heart of bringing this event to life.
Special thanks also go to our generous sponsors, particularly those with close connections to Marsden, including Navigation Financial Partners, Retirement Taylor Made and Tommy's Real Estate. We are equally grateful to our other sponsors and patrons, whose contributions were instrumental in making the event possible.
Our sincere thanks to the selection panel, participating artists, staff, volunteers and everyone who purchased artwork, bought raffle tickets or visited the exhibition.
What began as an ambitious idea has become a wonderful new event for the Marsden community, and we look forward to building on its success in the years ahead.
Toi Marsden | The Marsden Art was proudly sponsored by:
