Image: Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki, Christchurch
CoCA Toi Moroki in Christchurch will present ‘Counterbalance’, its inaugural fundraising exhibition, from 12 to 20 September 2026. The sale will bring together contemporary paintings, sculptures, jewellery and limited-edition prints by established and emerging artists connected with the gallery, Waitaha Canterbury and Aotearoa New Zealand, alongside artists with international profiles.
The exhibition is intended to support both the artists involved and the gallery’s future programme. CoCA has stated that half of the proceeds from works sold will go to exhibiting artists, while the remaining funds will support its exhibition programming. Those activities include the gallery’s mural project and its One Wall programme for emerging artists.
The presentation reflects CoCA’s stated focus on building connections between artists and the Waitaha community. Its programme supports a diverse range of contemporary art practices and includes exhibitions and events that are free to the public. The gallery describes its long-term vision as creating a thriving home for art and culture in Waitaha, the Māori name for the Canterbury region.
CoCA Toi Moroki is operated by the Canterbury Society of Arts Charitable Trust and is an independent charitable trust. The institution’s support materials describe it as Ōtautahi Christchurch’s oldest arts institution. Donations, patrons and partnerships help sustain its free programme of exhibitions and community events, as well as support for emerging and established artists from Waitaha Canterbury and across Aotearoa.
Works offered in ‘Counterbalance’ will span several forms and price points, although the gallery has not released a complete artist list or individual sale prices in the supplied announcement. Promotional material for the exhibition identifies Oliver Perkins’s ‘Fig’, 2025, made with acrylic, ink and watercolour on canvas. The wider selection is described as including work by artists who are Aotearoa-focused as well as internationally renowned.
‘Counterbalance’ will be held at CoCA Toi Moroki, 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central, from 12 to 20 September 2026. The exhibition is presented as a direct fundraising initiative: purchases will provide income for participating artists while contributing to the gallery’s mural project, One Wall programme and broader exhibition schedule.
