Our curators
Exhibition curatorial panel
The 15 artworks that you will be able to enjoy at our Sculpture in the Gardens 2024–25 exhibition have been chosen from the many artist submissions that were received. Our Curatorial Panel of Linda Tyler, Terry Urbahn and Catherine Hamilton have teamed together to form an exciting show for you…
Linda Tyler
Linda Tyler studied art history at the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland and completed her PhD on nineteenth-century botanist and museum worker John Buchanan, and her MA on émigré architect Ernst Plischke. She is currently the convenor of Museums and Cultural Heritage at the University of Auckland. As a curator, her recent projects include Tākiri: an unfurling, an exhibition of contemporary Māori art at the New Zealand Maritime Museum, and a small exhibition of early works by Anne Hamblett for Michael Lett Gallery in Auckland. Linda has been a co-curator of Sculpture in the Garden since 2015 and really enjoys working with the artists, the Friends of the Gardens, and the Botanic Gardens staff.
Terry Urbahn
Terry Urbahn studied Fine Art at the Universities of Canterbury and has maintained an art making practice that has included painting, sculpture, installation, moving image and sound. His work is held in many public and private collections including Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Terry also works as a Project Manager realising numerous major projects and events and is currently Arts and Culture Project Manager for Auckland Council Public Art. Terry was one of the curators for the 2018/2019 Sculpture In The Gardens.
Catherine Hamilton
Catherine Hamilton is a Landscape Architect with over 33 years’ experience. Throughout her career she has delivered numerous award-winning projects both large and small across Aotearoa/New Zealand. Catherine is passionate about the power of landscape architecture to positively impact our landscapes and communities. Whether returning laughter to the broken city through her design for Takaro-a-Poi/Margaret Mahy Family Playground in Christchurch, or re-imagining a tourism future underpinned by authentic values for Piopiotahi/Milford Sound, her work is motivated by her love of our people, our place. Catherine’s relationship with Auckland Botanic Gardens spans almost 20 years. Her designs include the internationally awarded Threatened Native Plant Garden. She also worked in collaboration with a passionate team of artists, architects, council staff, and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens to help deliver the much loved and celebrated Huakaiwaka visitor centre.
Gallery Curator
The Huakaiwaka Indoor Gallery represents the artists who are exhibiting in the outdoor exhibition, artists who previously exhibited outdoor and others by invitation. This jigsaw puzzle of a role is expertly handled by our gallery curator Cheryl Wright. She is an artist and the owner of Art Industry gallery in Clevedon Village. Her extensive experience with managing galleries and her knowledge of the arts makes her an ideal curator. Cheryl is married to sculptor James Wright, and together they have both had a long association with the Auckland Botanic Gardens.