Lopdell Precinct invites the studio artists registered for Open Studios Waitakere Weekend 2026 to participate in a preview exhibition which will be open to the public.

The aim of the exhibition is to enhance the profile of the weekend event and promote the participating studio artists. The works will be displayed in the Seminar room on level 1 of Lopdell House.

Anna Crichton, Tanya Wilkinson, Lesley Jenkin, Liz Mitchell and Yoko Onishi are collaborating to bring you a a wonderful range of cartoons, ceramics, jewellery and innovative wool creations. All artists will be on hand to talk about their process, materials and inspiration, offering visitors a hands-on look at five different approaches to five very different art forms.

Bryn is a multimedia artist currently working with ceramics. His practice combines photography, lino cutting, painting and sculpture to create unique hand made tiles of local architecture. Bryn will have a variety of recent works for sale as well as displaying the process he has been using and developing.

Davy's Cottage has offered studio space to visiting artists for many years. This year several past artists have been invited back to further create and display their work. Painting, jewellery, and assemblage will be on display.

Sian Faber’s mixed media paintings and mosaics bring a little Spanish flavour to her Exhibition Drive studio. Inspired by time in Andalusia, her work captures the movement of flamenco dancers, the patterns of their dresses and the energy of the sea. Visit her studio for her first Open Studios exhibition.

Jago Neal is a mixed-media artist, illustrator and photographer, and the Manager of Kumeū Arts. Working from his home studio and darkroom, his practice combines photography, drawing, painting and collage, with a focus on experimentation. During the Open Studio weekend, Jago will be making new work using photo transfer techniques. Framed photography, original artworks and photo tiles will also be available for purchase.

Karen Jarvis is a painter and photographer whose work explores memory and unspoken narratives. Visitors can see paintings and photos, purchase prints and copies of her art and photography books, and view samples of her Photobook Memoir work.

Ceramic artist Karen Kennedy creates brightly painted animal sculptures with a playful, comic edge, while Pauline Allpress makes colourful beaded jewellery and decorative pieces. These artists will be joined by Neena Buksh with her Pottery and home made produce.

Maxine works with textile art forms, abstract canvases, sculpture and ceramics, entering into exhibitions each year. Her recent work focuses on contemporary tribal people and oversized textile and ceramic fish wall hangings. Maxine’s work is found in foyers, restaurants, private and corporate collections throughout the world.

A significant site for New Zealand’s contemporary arts. The 1950s home of acclaimed artist Colin McCahon, with an adjacent artist’s residency. Visitors can enjoy a free tour of the Museum and grounds, a limited edition McCahon print for sale and a hands-on art worksheet available for children.

Michelle Huizinga is a multi-media sculptor working predominantly with clay and fibre. Michelle finds beauty in dilapidation and decay and this is reflected in much of her work. Most of her work comprises of sculptural vessels with weaving but during the Open Studios Michelle also has a range of domestic wares available . Visitors can view old and new projects, as well as works in progress.

Hayden & Janel have created a cohesive mix of workshops at their Swanson home. With an industrial vibe that draws creativity from the ranges & the people that visit - it is a calm & energy re-building space that nurtures growth & connection.

Anieszka is a designer and illustrator whose work has moved from paper to wax. At Poppy + Sage she sculpts and casts beeswax candles by hand, from stacking forms to little sculptural pieces, bringing the colour and playfulness of her illustration years into every one. Her studio is chaotic, colourful and full of magic and mayhem. Visit to watch candles in the making and maybe even take a piece home.

Rhyll works with encaustics, an Ancient Greek/Roman method that uses heat to mix tree resins with beeswax and pigments. She blends painting and stone assemblage with copper and natural materials such as sticks, leaves, feathers and wood blocks to give expression to the sacred in nature.

Seeking Our Way is a collaborative exhibition created by local whānau and The Light Library. Through workshops at Te Uru and Arataki, participants mapped life’s storms in handmade books and a shared artbook. Their colourful pages, stories and kōrero come together at Arataki as an expression of creativity and community.

Sculpture and furniture designer Rene Jansen has been producing contemporary relief sculptures for a number of years. His latest series combines luminous colours and aluminium to create relief sculptures that radiate with energy.

Sue Butler’s Rustic Art Studios combines a B&B with a project space upstairs. Sue will open your eyes to the potential of combining keepsakes/unexpected materials with creativity. She collaborates with her clients, to create unique artworks. Prepare to be inspired. 

Stunning artwork from a diverse group of talented Artists with a deep connection to the West Coast and Bethells/Te Henga area. Fine art paintings in oils, acrylic and watercolour, along with sculpture, weaving, mixed media, photography, stained glass, and more.

Toni has a background in textile design, and creates colourful abstract art work as a translation of everyday moments. In a time with obstacles and distractions for many, art is a great way to find calm and connection. Toni’s garden studio will have original paintings, mono prints, art prints and cards. 

Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School Open Studio welcomes the community into spaces where students’ work reveals the unfolding Waldorf/Steiner curriculum through painting, drawing, sculpture, fibre and handwork craft. Visitors can view a student exhibition, with some works for sale, and join experimental arts and craft experiences in the surrounding ngahere.