Auckland New Zealand is eclectic and modern city visually enhanced with street art and sculpture. You would be hard-pressed to find a business district in the city that didn’t have some sort of public art. Auckland street art ranges from classic painting to modern graffiti-like styles. Similarly, the city’s sculpture covers a range from traditional Maori carvings to funky and contemporary strands blowing in the wind. Each year, Auckland Art Week (October) brings it all together.
As art is visual, let me take you on a virtual Auckland street art tour through photography.
Auckland Art Week is in October. It is a great time to discover New Zealand art, either on your own or through a free walking tour. Auckland offers a variety of art tour options each year, sponsored primarily by Heart of the City.
Auckland Street Art
The Auckland Street Art tour is one we can do annually, as street art is an ever-changing medium. Always a bit different, it is generally my highlight of Auckland Art Week. The tour features permanent and temporary works that highlight various stages of the progression of street art from the illegal tagging of the 90s through today’s frequently sponsored and often commissioned Auckland Street Art.
Some of my favourite examples of Auckland Street Art:



More Auckland Street Art




For more great street art from around the world, check out these coffee table books:
Highlights of an Auckland Street Art Tour in 2016
In 2016 Heart of the City commissioned several talented New Zealand artists to create hearts for the city including Dick Frizzell, Askew One, Sara Hughes, Chris Heaphy, and Flox.




Auckland Waterfront Artwork and Sculptures
Another year, another Auckland Art Week, another free walking tour. In 2014 we enjoyed a Waterfront Artwork and Sculpture tour as well as another Auckland street art tour.


Fire Window day and night
Fire Window by American Artist Eric Orr, 1996.
The water runs down the steel sides, and at night flames are visible on the top. I prefer it at night. What do you think?




All photos on this page ©Rhonda Albom. All rights reserved.
Practical Information on Auckland Street Art and Sculpture
- Auckland Art Week annually falls in October. It’s a colourful event encompassing much of the city with free walking tours, gallery exhibits, workshops, and lectures. It’s a coming together of all things artistic in the city.
- Sponsored by Heart of the City, many of the free walking tours and some of the other events require registration. See their official website.
- Auckland Artweek events take place at over 100 venues in ten neighbourhoods throughout Auckland.
- There are many very talented New Zealand artists. I hope you have discovered a few new favourites today.

More Street Art and Sculpture from Around the World
It’s no secret that I love street art. I search it out when we travel, I photograph it, and I share it here on Albom Adventures. If you are also a fan, check out these articles featuring some of my favourite collections:
- Christchurch Street Art Uplifts NZ’s Post-Quake City
- Bizarre Wellington Street Sculptures are Colorful Fun
- K Road Urban Art in Progress
- Explore Melbourne Street Art and Graffiti Laneways
- Discovering Street Art in Perth, Australia
- Plus a Street Art Around the World collaboration series featuring sample from New Zealand and Australia, Europe, Canada and United States, Central and South America, and Asia.
Please Share
If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media, including Pinterest. The two images here:
- An interesting typeface street artwork on Mills Lane in Auckland.
- These colourful ribbons and bells are from the artist, Tiffany Singh.
Lynda (Toddler Baby World)
I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought your post was beautifully written. Many thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
I like the ribbons and bells the best. Does someone come back later and take it all down? My 2nd favorite is the spray chalk and stencil “carpet” which I imagine is quite a challenge to execute in rainy weather. I’ve seen a lot of paste up art before but always considered it more along the lines of advertising than artful expression.
Rhonda Albom
I was wondering the same. I don’t know if it is a temporary or permanent piece of art. The chalk carpets are temporary and will wash away in the rain.
kid can doodle
This is the type of event I would have loved to have gone to. We discovered Laneways in Melbourne —they’re very cool, and they tried to introduce them in Brissy. cheers from Kid can doodle!
Rhonda Albom
We are headed your way in a few days. Melbourne is our first stop.
anto
Awesome! I really loved Auckland each time I visited and hope to be back there. I think I actually remember seeing some really funky art around town, I mostly love modern art so this would be a great event to attend. Shame that it’s on the other side of the world for me though…
Rhonda Albom
Yes, Auckland has lots of fun and funky art, especially if you headed up to K-road or Ponsonby.
Paula McInerney
Love the music of the 70’s walkway and the ribbons. Love it all
Rhonda Albom
The music posters was a fun surprise when we turned the corner.
Vicky and Buddy
I love that it encompasses all kinds of art. I like street art and murals, but I like to see other forms as well. I really liked the bonsai art!
Rhonda Albom
I only went to two of several different Artweek tours. Last year I went to one on Maori art and another on architecture.
Jennifer (aka Dr. J)
Great street art gives a city character. I love visiting places with great street art – feels like I’m getting a glimpse into the city’s soul. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
If this is true, than Auckland has a lot of interesting character 🙂
Cathy
I love artistic events! Great mix of art here, wish I was closer:)
Rhonda Albom
Auckland is a great city for to visit.
Ruth
Very colorful and ingenious! I like the heart theme and the different display on the floor. Seems like a cool event to attend with the entire family.
Rhonda Albom
The hearts are pretty cool and perfect for the Heart of the City campaign.
Carmen's Luxury Travel
I love cities with great street art! I need to put Auckland on my list. Great post, thanks for sharing :0
Rhonda Albom
Auckland is a great city for many reasons. Art is only one of them.
Lauren Bonheim
I never knew Auckland was so artsy! This week of events sounds like so much fun! I love taking art tours, as I’m not very good at figuring out the message behind art myself, so this looks like something I would love to take part in! 😀
Rhonda Albom
I am the same, and I get so much of these tours.
Clare
Great to see pics of auckland, I lived there for a year and had a great time 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It is a great city. I have been here for over 13 years.
Jennifer
I love that chalk carpet! Art down on the ground always catches my eye.
Rhonda Albom
Me too. I was only sorry they made it with chalk, as it it springtime with too much rain.
eileen g
I love these kinds of events that get a whole city involved in art and that make it accessible to everyone. they are usually also pretty kid-friendly, too.
Rhonda Albom
They did have a few kid-focused art events this week.
Trekking with Becky
I love the dragon! I thought it was Chinese, and I never would have noticed the Maori warrior or the European on horseback if you didn’t point them out. I love those details.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – that is exactly what I thought as I listened to our tour guide. I never would though noticed either if she hadn’t pointed them out.
Vicki Louise
I saw the Rainbow Warrior Mosaic a few years ago when I was in Auckland, but would love to be there for the Street Art Festival – there are some amazing pieces. I love all the Hearts for the ‘Heart of the City’ – they’re really cute!
Rhonda Albom
I also love the hearts, especially when I come upon one I hadn’t seen before, or one I forgot about until I found it.
Drew
Love street art. One of my favorite activities to check out in a new city. So many cities have a growing scene. Just spent time in Belgrade, and did a fantastic street art tour, with most of the street art made in the last few years. Auckland has some impressive pieces of art too!
Rhonda Albom
Auckland has really gotten behind the art scene.
Kerri
Really love it how they have even included the roadway. Street art really is developing a life of it’s own now isn’t it. Great photos, great celebration of something that is so col.
Indrani
This is really a wonderful outlet for creative people. In Bangalore too we have some thing similar, but is is held just once a year! But the idea is catching on small streets too put up similar such displays.
Rhonda Albom
Artweek is once a year, well one-week per year. Some of the art is temporary, others is permanent, and there all year.
budget jan
I love that city laneways are invigorated by artwork. It keeps the city alive and attracts locals and visitors alike.
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. We spend a lot more time walking laneways off the beaten path than we would if they didn’t have the art.
Greg - OnthewaytoTV.com
I love street art and it makes me so happy that more and more cities are getting covered with it. One of my favorite cities is Gorgetown, Penang.
Rhonda Albom
Me too. It really brightens up a city.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
It’s all amazing! But I really love sidewalk art. I hope the rain didn’t keep washing it away. #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
It rained quite a bit yesterday so I imagine today, the last day of Artweek, that most of that chalk is gone. Too bad they didn’t do it with something a bit more permanent.
jill
I really like the Tiffany Singh ribbons – there’s just something about art installations like hers that appeal to me. Looks like an incredible week of art!
Rhonda Albom
Her ribbons looked so beautiful blowing in the wind, with the gentle dinging of the bells that were attached to the ribbons.
Juliette | Snorkels to Snow
Awesome – as an ex Aucklander I love this sort of thing, I love how much happens during art work right across the city. Great to get behind the up and coming artists and support the arts as a major industry.
Rhonda Albom
As an ex-Aucklander, do you get back here often? You should plan your next visit for artweek.
Amy
oh I wish that I had seen all that, Auckland city always seems to have so much going on, in a good way 🙂
Rhonda Albom
It’s not too late, it’s still on this weekend. Although the rain has probably destroyed the chalk art, the rest will still be there. There are more free tours today and tomorrow.
Lolo
I find street art to be quite interesting. I can love it or I can hate it. But it certainly always brightens up any town! #Wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
I completely agree. I didn’t used to like it so much, and I am not sure when I changed. But now I love it.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
So many wonderful artworks! Which was your favourite? We’re on our way back from Venice and there’s an amazing mix of contemporary art and old masters
Rhonda Albom
My favourites are the hearts as I just like the concept of the hearts of the city appearing all over in random places.
David
Very colourful and festive! I really like the chalk and patterns on the ground. Don’t you just hate when there’s something really cool to photograph but is impossible to capture properly.
Rhonda Albom
I spent so long trying to capture that pink heart that the tour guide had stopped talking and the entire group had walked around the corner and through the square. Good thing they missed the traffic light or I would have lost them forever 🙂
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
cool street art!:)
Rhonda Albom
I thought so too 🙂
kelleyn rothaermel
Fun ! Thanks for sharing! Every city is so unique. Love how it is even taken down to the ground level,
Rhonda Albom
I thought it was pretty cool that they did the street level this year too.
Ellen
Wonderful variety! I’m partial to dragons, but they’re all nifty things. Thanks for the tour; enjoyed from here in San Jose.
Rhonda Albom
I like all of the hearts. Which San Jose? California, Costa Rica or somewhere else?
JM Illinois U.S.A.
Enjoyed the Art Walk in Auckland this week via your blog. It was so exciting!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks JM.
Teresa Kindred
The heart is awesome!
Rhonda Albom
Which heart is your favorite?
Indah Nuria Savitri
I love the dragon and the colorful heart indeed 😘😘😘. Happy WW and cheers from NYC 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I like the colors and symbolism in the dragon heart.
Rhonda Albom
I love just walking around Auckland. There is always something new.
Comedy Plus
Love all the great colors. Great shots as always.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Sandee.
L. Diane Wolfe
Some of it is so simple, yet beautiful.
Rhonda Albom
The temporary works need to be simple.
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
What awesome artwork!
Rhonda Albom
Auckland is so open to it.
Kathe W.
I love all the hearts! Have a lovely day!
Rhonda Albom
Me too. They are just fun to come around a corner and find one.
Alissa Apel
I love the 2nd one down. I always wonder how long it lasts though. I’d think with people walking, cars driving and snow scooping it wouldn’t last long. It’s so cool though! The ribbons and circle bouquets are really neat too!
Rhonda Albom
This particular laneway didn’t seem to have any cars, and we never get snow in Auckland. (I shouldn’t say never, we did once get a light layer, but it was gone in a few hours, if that long.
Jackie
I love all of it!!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Jackie.
Donna Simon
I walked by that tree with the bells yesterday. The gentle ringing is really cool.
Rhonda Albom
I thought it sounded sort of mystical.
Bill
Nothing like walking along a street looking at Art
Rhonda Albom
I agree. I am a huge fan of street art, and love coming upon it in any city.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
You’ve convinced us! We’re coming to Auckland. D is just waiting on a confirmation on our accommodation in Hastings and then he will book the airfares. If you are around in February we have to get together and you can tell us all the things we should be doing in your beautiful city.
Rhonda Albom
Yay! We should be here in February, as Sarah comes home after a year in Argentina mid-January. She is going to need a break before we travel again. Let’s talk soon! So excited to meet you.
Julie K Pick
Love the array of colorful street art! It’s a shame that the chalk and stencil carpet has to be reapplied after it rains. You can see all of the creativity that went into this project.
Rhonda Albom
That is exactly what I was thinking. It just seems like too much work to do for something that doesn’t last.
Beth
I am going on one of the heritage tours next weekend. I am looking forward to it.
Rhonda Albom
Oh cool. I wish I had signed up for that one too.
Ellen P
I love all the hearts around the city.
Rhonda Albom
There are five now, but I imagine there will be more in years to come.
Rajlakshmi
It’s always a pleasure to walk in streets filled with amazing artwork. Beautiful pictures 🙂 We are going to have Sculpture by the Sea soon in Sydney.
Rhonda Albom
I went to Sculptures by the Sea about 5 years ago. It was wonderful and full of such creativity. Enjoy.
Amila Wickramarachchi
Beautiful street art.I like the colourful ribbons much.Just pretty and creative!
Rhonda Albom
The ribbons have bells on the ends and they sound so delicate and pretty when you walk by.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Moss spheres. Never seen anything like that.
I really dig the first one with the dragon.
Rhonda Albom
I was glad to be on a tour when she pointed out the moss spheres, as I probably wouldn’t have walked down that particular laneway otherwise.