Story: Art galleries and collections

A collection of work by British sculptor Henry Moore toured New Zealand in 1956–57. It was one of the most significant international touring shows of its era and introduced many New Zealanders to modern art. In three weeks more than 36,000 people went to the exhibition in Auckland alone. People attending the exhibition had mixed views – delight, indignation and confusion were some of the varied reactions Moore’s sculptures provoked. These two women are closely examining one of the smaller sculptures at the National Art Gallery in Wellington in 1957.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)
Reference: EP/1957/0524-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
How to cite this page
Roger Blackley, Art galleries and collections – Galleries and collections, 1900 to 1960s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42087/henry-moore-exhibition-national-art-gallery-1957 (accessed 27 October 2025).
Story by Roger Blackley, published 28 June 2013, updated 8 August 2016.