Inaugural Hamilton Art and Design Week set to bring ‘wonder’ to central city

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

The question people should ask is not “Why does Hamilton need an art and design week?” but “Why did it take Hamilton so long to get one?”

That’s the word from Chao Han, one of the curators of the inaugural Hamilton Art and Design Week - a 10-day series of events that will enliven some parts of the central city from September 25 to October 4.

These will include exhibitions, floor talks and seminars, and the opportunity to witness art in the process of being created. The event has the over-arching theme “City of Wonder” - or COW, for short.

Han is the co-founder of Alexandra St business Hanrad Gallery and a staunch advocate for Hamilton’s artistic community - and says he could see great potential for a series of events that put them and the work they do in the spotlight.

A graduate of Auckland University’s School of Art, Han had spent several years in China running a successful business specialising in interiors and commercial art.

During his time in that country he had also worked as a curator for Beijing Design Week, which is where he hit upon the idea of doing something similar in his new home city.

“It is a big part of the calendar in Beijing, and I could see there is enormous potential to do something similar here.”

Hanrad, established with interior designer and creative director Barry Radford, opened five years ago and in that time had established numerous connections with local artists.

“There’s not much going on in terms of art in Hamilton, but there are lots of really talented artists living here. They have very little means to find their way to an audience for their work. The city should be capitalising on their presence here.”

While the final details are still being worked through, there will be at least 10 artists and designers and at least nine exhibition spaces - both indoor and outdoors.

Among those participating are some top-level Hamilton artists and artisans. They include Gaye Jurisich, who is renowned for her installation works and paintings; Raglan woodwork master Benjamin Grant; and digital artist Paul Cleland.

There is also Ahsin Ahsin, who is perhaps best known known for his large-scale murals around the city, many of which feature hybrid crocodile-human characters. Ahsin’s involvement in Hamilton Art and Design Week will see him tackling a different kind of medium: Fabric.

Another avant garde artist announced for the event is Luca De-Andrad Odgers, who will be working in collaboration with Ward St clothing store Texas Radio and The Big Beat.

De-Andrad Odgers will be painting the interior of one of the shop’s changing rooms, as well as turning a T-shirt and a pair of jeans into art.

“We are hoping to make use of some of the empty spaces in the city centre and, if we are allowed, turn them into exhibition spaces,” Han said. “Some of the art could be placed on the windows. It does not necessarily have to be taking up the interior of the store.”

The event will include public tours, in which people can follow a map around the city to find where things are happening.

“There will be pop-up art in a lot of spaces. A lot of shop-front re-imagining and retail activation. We want to use the artists to draw more people into the city, and let them know about other things that will be happening at that time.”

The week has the backing of both the Hamilton City Council and the Hamilton Central Business Association.

“Some of the streets will have a theme. In one street there might be a number of bakeries, so there may be some baking-themed art involved. And I often think of Collingwood St as a miniature Chinatown - it’s a go-to for Chinese food - so there may be some decoration in Chinese red in that street.”

Students from Waikato University’s design courses will be involved in another project that “will use art to fix the pavement - They will be literally painting over the cracks”. Meanwhile, Wintec students will be tackling another project redesigning benches around the city using a variety of art styles.

Another aspect of the week is also drawn from another part of Han’s background, curating a travelling Italian-made exhibition of inflatable artworks called Balloon Museum - “so you will see a little bit of art around the city made using inflatable media too.”

Further details about the events and how people can get involved can be found on cowartdesign.co.nz, and the Hamilton Art and Design Week Instagram page.