Queenstown's Best Art Galleries

Milford Galleries is the place to browse contemporary New Zealand artworks of all kinds, including paintings, glass works, ceramics, sculptures and mixed media creations. The gallery consists of two exhibition spaces: the one upstairs is reserved for their ever-changing displays, while the downstairs area is home to a private store room with numerous masterpieces.

Part gift shop, part art gallery, the Kapa Design Gallery hosts a number of New Zealand and international artworks, handcrafted jewellery, photography and unique cultural relics. Their primary goal is to support the finest local talent, from artists to designers, as well as showcasing the works of up-and-coming brands from all over the world. The Kapa Design Gallery is conveniently located inside Queenstown Airport, making it one of the main go-tos for memorabilia with an artistic flair.

One of the oldest private art galleries in New Zealand, the Central Art Gallery is a place that fully supports local talent. An array of paintings from established and emerging Kiwi artists are on show, with collections ranging from fine art pieces to contemporary creations. Along with a friendly gallery space where people can shop for or simply browse the artworks, the gallery also serves as a go-between for sourcing paintings from New Zealand artists.

Contemporary art, interior design, and a number of mixed-media masterpieces — the Artbay Gallery’s collection definitely offers an interesting contrast to the classic heritage building in which it resides. Award-winning New Zealand artists are well represented in their eclectic exhibitions, which always set out to make art enticing and non-intimidating to the wider public.

The Silver Fern Gallery has come a long way since its humble Arrowtown beginnings in 1993. Avril Dolman and Graham Bates originally called their artistic venue The Emporium. A name change was eminent when the duo relocated to Queenstown, after serving their local community for 15 years. These days, the Silver Fern Gallery, which was named after the Dolman family’s longstanding souvenir business, is home to traditional Maori art, quality wood crafts, ceramic and glass pieces, as well as a trove of New Zealand made paintings.