Play presents artworks from The Arts House Trust’s collection for children and audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Play

From The Arts House Trust Collection

13 May – 20 July, 2025

Morrinsville Gallery

Play presents artworks from The Arts House Trust’s collection for children and audiences of all ages to enjoy. The works on display may recall playful experiences from our childhood, offering a sense of wonder and excitement as everyday objects are transformed from the mundane. Several pieces feature animals as protagonists – these portraits might remind us of cherished pets from long past. Another theme is constructed worlds, recalling microcosms and utopias that echo the imaginative landscapes we once built during childhood play.

This exhibition explores how artists channel their inner child through imaginative and playful approaches. Sam Mitchell’s small painting Pineapple Lips (2010) features a tropical parrot; her portrait on a canvas book cover evokes memories of hardcover children’s books, colouring-in contests, and our early attempts to draw beloved pets. Debra Bustin’s Boat Painting (1985), a whimsical construction of wire frame, paper, and paint, functions as a wall sculpture that captures the same sense of wonder as mobiles suspended above a baby’s cot.

Play reflects the creative process by which artists transform everyday objects into works of art. Their methods often resemble playful activities, using a wide variety of materials and exploring diverse subjects. In this sense, contemporary art can be seen as art for everyone—inviting personal responses shaped by our own experiences. This is the power of art in our lives: it allows us to dream, to step outside the present, and to see the world from new perspectives.

Image credits: Pineapple Lips, Sam MITCHELL, 2010.  Oil on canvas book cover. The Arts House Trust Collection

Featured Artists:

Alexander Bartleet

Conrad Blain-Caunce

Daniel Malone

Debra Bustin

Desmond Ford

Don Driver

Hamish Palmer

John Oxborough

Lauren Lysaght

Malcolm Ford

Mark Lewington

Michael Morgan

Miranda Parkes

Patrick Malone

Paul Radford

Philip Trusttum

Rohan Wealleans

Sam Mitchell

Sam Rountree Williams

Scott Eady

About the Morrinsville Gallery  
The Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable Trust proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025 as the heart of community art in the Matamata-Piako District. We are passionate about creating a welcoming and vibrant space for both locals and visitors in Morrinsville and throughout the beautiful Waikato region.

As a non-profit organization, we rely entirely on community support. Our efforts would not be possible without the help of donors, volunteers, and community members like you. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and our story.