Stepping through the door of Red Art Gallery Design Store and Café five years ago, owners Suzi and Ant Stevens immediately felt at home within the iconic 1800’s heritage Bridge Street building. “It felt so familiar,” says Suzi. “The historical building and its unique 'European' aesthetic just drew me in. We’d always thought a design space with a cafe would be a great idea and the building just ticked all the boxes.” After managing a small community gallery and working in the media industry in Auckland, the couple wasted no time in purchasing the business. “We are lucky to have such a great team working with us who all bring their own bit of creativity and passion to the job. The space is constantly evolving which keeps it interesting for all who are part of it.”
Showcasing work by both local and nationwide artists, Red Art Gallery is a hub for clever creatives, including Suzi herself. “Creativity is a strong gene that runs through my family. Making and creating has always been part of my life.” Working in the miniature department at Weta Workshop, for King Kong and many other movies such as Prince Caspian, are just some of her personal career highlights. Suzi studied ceramics, jewellery and silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art and began making a series of clocks in papier-mache, culminating in a sell-out exhibition at a Liverpool gallery. “I continued the clockmaking in New Zealand and forged a business at The Christchurch Arts Centre. During this time, I was invited to showcase my work at an event in Christchurch held for Bill Clinton and his political party. It was quite a thrill meeting them.”
The art scene in Nelson is thriving, says Suzi with events such as Nelson Clay Week, the Arts Festival and Nelson Jewellery Week creating a platform to exhibit some of the best the region has to offer. “The events are not only fantastic for the artists involved but are also helping the local economy.” In the throes of renovating a new space within the historic building, Suzi and the team have been working hard to ensure as little disruption as possible. “We are excited about our new space and look forward to opening its doors very soon and hosting more exhibitions and workshops.”
Coinciding with the launch of their new gallery space, Red Art Gallery will be hosting a Spring Exhibition on October 20, beginning at 5pm, alongside Nelson Arts Festivals’ ‘Night Vision’. “The Exhibition is a group show of mixed works from some of the artists we represent - and a few new to us. The space will be filled with the delights of spring in the form of many mediums including paintings, ceramics, glass and textiles. We thought this would be an ideal theme for our new beginning, and after the years of Covid it seems very suiting for all.”
1 Bridge Street, Nelson
03 548 2170
Redartgallery.com
