27 March — 7 June 2026
Opening Event: Friday 27 March • 5:30 - 7:30PM
Workshop Series: Wednesday 8 & 22 April • 6 - 8PM
Paul Maseyk:
Jugs in New Zealand Painting
Over the past seven years, Paul Maseyk has explored the still life genre in New Zealand art, with a particular focus on works featuring the jug. This project brings together two of Maseyk’s longstanding interests—painting and jugs. In response, he has produced over 100 jugs modelled on those depicted in New Zealand paintings, identified through research across public and private collections, magazines, and online sources. Jugs in New Zealand Painting presents a selection of these paintings drawn from The Arts House Trust Collection and several collections in Aotearoa.
The paintings referenced offer a cross-section of New Zealand art history, ranging from a Frances Hodgkins’s 1929 painting to a large-scale work by Christina Pataialii from 2021. Particularly noteworthy are the vessels inspired by the watercolour and mixed-media drawings of Mark Braunias and Gavin Chilcott from The Arts House Trust Collection. Maseyk translates their drawn forms into ceramic objects, incorporating the distinctive markings and colouration employed by both artists. These transformations are revelatory: while the original drawings may not overtly depict jugs, they are reimagined as compelling and fully realised vessels.
Following earlier exhibitions at Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery (2025) and The Dowse Art Museum (2024), this iteration of the exhibition includes 11 works from The Arts House Trust Collection along with Maseyk’s corresponding jugs. Featured artists from the Collection include Mark Braunias, Gavin Chilcott, Allie Eagle, Bill Hammond, Francis Hunt, Séraphine Pick, Eion Stevens, and Helen Stewart.
This exhibition is being shown concurrently with Paul Maseyk: Jugs in New Zealand Painting. The Waikato Connection at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery (20 March – 19 July 2026). It has been supported with loans from The Dowse Art Museum, The Fletcher Trust Collection, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, and private collectors.
About the Artist
Paul Maseyk (b. 1974) lives and works in Ngāmotu New Plymouth. After completing his Diploma of Ceramic Design and Production in at Whanganui’s Polytechnic in 1997, Maseyk has since been awarded the Archie Bray Foundation of Ceramic Arts residency in Montana, USA, and the Medalta International Artist Residency in Alberta, Canada. He has worked alongside Barry Brickell OBE (1935-2016) at Driving Creek and Ross Mitchell-Anyon ONZM (1958-2022). Maseyk’s work is held in numerous collections both nationally and internationally.
Events & Public Programme
Creative Workshop Series for Adults: Still Life Drawing & Painting
$45 each or both for $80Workshop 01: Still Life Drawing & Painting
Wednesday 8 April • 6 - 8PMWorkshop 02: Hand-Building Clay Jugs
Wednesday 22 April • 6 - 8PM
Paul Maseyk: Jugs in New Zealand Painting at The Arts House Trust is kindly supported by ArtLink, New Zealand’s premier art storage and logistics specialist.
