Kura Gallery

Kura Gallery is a New Zealand art and design gallery and retailer that has featured Māori and New Zealand artists since 1998. It operates physical galleries in Auckland and Wellington and an online shop, presenting traditional and contemporary Māori carving, original artworks, innovative design, jewellery, furniture and genuine pounamu (greenstone). The business is owned and operated by Jude Dods and her son Ben Dods, with Jude serving as Arts Director. The name Kura carries a Māori meaning of precious or prestigious, referring to the red feathers worn by Rangatira (Māori chiefs) and revered as precious. The gallery positions itself as a provider of quality contemporary Māori and New Zealand art and design for both local and international visitors, and it operates as a licensed stockist for 'Toi Iho', the mark of authenticity and quality for Māori arts and crafts. Kura Gallery's product range spans carving, gifts, prints and photography, ceramics and glass, jewellery, sculpture and objects, greenstone, Māori design, wall art, furniture and design, paintings, and weaving and wearables. The gallery's team describes itself as driven by a passion for the many artists and small businesses that make up its range of original, quality Māori and New Zealand made art and design. The first Kura Gallery opened in Taupō in 1998, founded by Jude Dods, who had previously opened a gallery in Namibia, Africa. Jude co-owned Kura Taupō with business partner Carol until 2000, when an opportunity to open a gallery in Wellington arose; the Taupō and Wellington businesses kept the same name but were separated. Kura Auckland opened in December 2002. Today the gallery maintains a presence in both Wellington and Auckland, combining physical gallery spaces with an online shop.

Kura Gallery traces its origins to founder Jude Dods, a seventh-generation New Zealander affiliated to Papawai Marae, Wairarapa and Ngāi Tahu through her mother. With a background in industrial design and art, and having lived and travelled extensively around the world, Jude opened her first gallery in Namibia, Africa, providing a space for local artists to sell their works and enabling travellers to access authentic arts and crafts from the area. Jude opened her first Kura Gallery in Taupō in 1998 with the same intention, recognising the lack of available gallery spaces for many talented and skilled artists to exhibit and promote their work. She co-owned Kura Taupō with business partner Carol until 2000, when an opportunity to open another gallery in Wellington presented itself. Kura Taupō and Kura Wellington kept the same name, but the businesses were separated. Kura Auckland opened in December 2002, extending the gallery's presence to New Zealand's largest city. The gallery has since featured Māori and New Zealand artists continuously since 1998, operating well-established and highly visible art spaces in Wellington and Auckland, complemented by an online shop. The business is owned and operated by Jude Dods and her son Ben Dods. Jude serves as Arts Director, and the gallery operates as a licensed stockist for 'Toi Iho', the mark of authenticity and quality for Māori arts and crafts. The gallery's range has grown to encompass traditional and contemporary Māori carving, original artworks, innovative design, unique jewellery, furniture and genuine pounamu/greenstone, alongside prints and photography, ceramics and glass, sculpture and objects, wall art, paintings, and weaving and wearables.

• 2002

  Kura Auckland opens in December.

• 2000

  Jude Dods and business partner Carol end co-ownership of Kura Taupō; the Taupō and Wellington businesses separate while keeping the same name.

• 1998

  Jude Dods opens her first Kura Gallery in Taupō.

A licensed stockist for 'Toi Iho', the mark of authenticity and quality for Māori arts and crafts, providing quality contemporary Māori and New Zealand art and design to local and international visitors.

• Traditional and contemporary Māori carving

• Original artworks

• Innovative design

• Unique jewellery

• Furniture

• Genuine pounamu/greenstone

• Prints and photography

• Ceramics and glass

• Sculpture and objects

• Wall art

• Paintings

• Weaving and wearables

1. 1Home - Kura Gallery: Maori and New Zealand Art + Design.kuragallery.co.nz
2. 2About Us - Kura Gallery: Maori and New Zealand Art + Design.kuragallery.co.nz
3. 3Kura Gallery - Wikidatawikidata.org