Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir And More: A Century Of Modern Art Opens This Weekend

Encounter inspiring masterpieces by some of the most influential artists of all time in A Century of Modern Art, opening Saturday 7 June at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

On loan from the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, this special exhibition showcases 57 paintings by 53 artists who changed the course of art history, including Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Helen Frankenthaler, Édouard Manet, William Merritt Chase, Amedeo Modigliani, Berthe Morisot, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pissarro, Robert Rauschenberg, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, James McNeill Whistler, and many more.

Auckland Art Gallery Senior Curator International Art Sophie Matthiesson says, “A Century of Modern Art traces the revolutionary transformations in Western painting from the 1860s to the 1960s. This timeframe witnessed the introduction of electricity, two world wars, multiple social revolutions and the nuclear age.

“It is an extraordinary chance to see these works in person and reflect on how art evolved in response to a rapidly changing world. The exhibition shows the lively exchange of artistic ideas and techniques between artists and movements in Europe and the United States of America.”

The exhibition includes legendary highlights from Toledo Museum of Art’s world-famous collection, such as Water Lilies, circa 1922, Claude Monet’s shimmering painting of his beloved pond at Giverny; Paul Gauguin’s Street in Tahiti, 1891, where smouldering colours and curving forms captured his fantasy of the tropical island; Henri Matisse’s Dancer Resting, 1940, portraying model Lydia Delectorskaya in a moment of vivid repose in his studio; and Vincent van Gogh’s unforgettable Wheatfields with Reaper, Auvers, 1890, a swirling, sun drenched portrayal of a harvest, painted days before his sudden death. This exhibition marks the first time Toledo Museum’s collection of modern paintings has travelled together outside their home institution.

Concurrent with the exhibition is an extensive programme of talks, tours, gallery open late nights, a kids and whānau guide, as well as family-friendly activities that will run throughout winter. Check out the newly launched range of tantalising themed products in the Gallery Shop, which includes Monet and van Gogh print, totes, scarves, scrunchies and much more.

A Century of Modern Art is organised by the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio. This exhibition is proudly supported by HSBC, Cordis, Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, NZME and indemnified by the New Zealand Government.

Tickets are available now for purchase here: https://tix.aucklandartgallery.com/events/7916fa53-4814-dd33-b9ad-f5cbb1b29b20

Exhibition details

A Century of Modern Art

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Saturday 7 June–Sunday 28 September 2025

Co-ordinating curator: Dr Sophie Matthiesson

Tickets: Adults (New Zealanders) $29.50, Adults (International tourists) $34.50, Members FREE, Concessions $25.50. Children 12 and under FREE (must be with an accompanying adult).

Events

New Zealand Youth Choir present ‘A Century of Modern Art’

Sunday 8 June 1–1.50pm

Free

Join us for special performances by the Auckland members of the New Zealand Youth Choir as they respond to artworks in A Century of Modern Art. Hear their special choral interpretations of Monet’s Water Lilies and Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers.

Members Late

Thursday 12 June 6–8pm

Gallery Members only, $10 + booking fees

Join fellow art enthusiasts for an after-hours visit to A Century of Modern Art. Choose from four session times starting from 6pm.

Open Late: An Abstract Experiment

Thursdays 19 June, 17 July and 21 August, 6–9pm

Admission to the event is free but a ticket is required to access the exhibition. The Gallery will come alive with free activations at night inspired by A Century of Modern Art. This will include DJs, jazz music, food and drink pop-ups and interactive activations. Open Lates are proudly supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.

Music of the Month

Sunday 29 June, 2–3pm

Free

Music of the Month is a monthly series of live music events with artists from Aotearoa and beyond. This instalment with Tiny Ruins is inspired by A Century of Modern Art.

Kids & Whānau Create: Abstract? What is that?

Saturdays & Sundays in July & Every day during the school holidays (Saturday 28 June to Sunday 13 July) 11am–3pm

Free

Find the abstract paintings in A Century of Modern Art, then create your own stamps with simple shapes and forms to compose a masterpiece of your own.

Art History Lecture Series | Van Gogh & Gauguin online

Monday 14 July–Monday 18 August 7.30-8.30pm online every Monday

Join art historian Linda Yang for an informative and accessible six-week online lecture series that provides foundational knowledge of the artists Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

Art History Lecture Series | Van Gogh & Gauguin auditorium

Wednesday 16 Jul 2025—Wednesday 20 Aug 10.30-11.30am auditorium every Wednesday Join art historian Linda Yang for an informative and accessible six-week in-person lecture series that provides foundational knowledge of the artists Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

Check the Gallery’s website for full event details.

Gauguin Street in Tahiti Carryall

$60

Carry a masterpiece with you with this tote bag featuring Paul Gauguin’s Street in Tahiti, 1891.

Keith Grinter Monet Water Lilies Tumbler

$75

Make any meal a masterpiece when accompanied with a drink in these gorgeous glass tumblers like no others!

Van Gogh Wheat Fields Silk Scrunchie

$39

Secure your locks with a perfectly oversized scrunchie. This luxurious silk hairpiece features Vincent van Gogh’s Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers, 1890.

About Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, part of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, is the largest and most inspiring visual arts experience in New Zealand. Its collection and loan collections currently number over 18,000 artworks. They include major holdings of New Zealand historic, modern and contemporary art. Alongside outstanding works by Māori and Pacific artists, they represent significant international painting, sculpture and print collections. aucklandartgallery.com

About Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s cultural and economic agency committed to making our region a desirable place to live, work, visit, invest and do business.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is one of the substantive cultural institutions that Tātaki Auckland Unlimited owns, operates and maintains for the benefit of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. aucklandunlimited.com

About the Toledo Museum of Art

Established in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) is a beloved cultural institution in Toledo, Ohio, and a global leader in the museum field. It believes that art transforms people’s lives and invites them to see differently. Its renowned collection features over 25,000 works, ranging from antiquity to contemporary art, with a particular strength in glass—recognised as one of the finest collections in the world. Situated on a 40-acre campus, TMA integrates art into people’s lives through its world-class collection, engaging exhibitions, robust educational programs, and community outreach.

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