Art Box Gallery

About Art Box Gallery

Art Box Gallery is 'the little gallery with a lot of art', located at 1/16 Loftus Street in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui. The gallery's origins trace back to the major earthquakes that devastated central and eastern Christchurch — the building had been the studio of local artist Beverley Frost since 2004, and following the loss of so many of the city's artistic outlets, Beverley began taking in a few Christchurch artists, giving rise to Art Box Gallery.

Now in its fifteenth year, the gallery represents around sixty New Zealand artists, offering original paintings and prints across categories including landscapes and cityscapes, seascapes, abstracts, flora and fauna, people, and prints. Art ranges from around NZ$30 to NZ$6,000, meaning there's genuinely something for many budgets. Visitors are assured a warm, relaxed welcome, and the gallery is increasingly reached by art lovers from other parts of New Zealand and overseas, with shipping available nationwide and internationally via a fully insured courier service.

The gallery is on two levels with stairs only, though staff are happy to bring work down to the ground floor to show visitors. Parking is available immediately underneath the building, with an additional visitor park also on offer.

Art Box Gallery: Fifteen Years of New Zealand Art in Papanui

Art Box Gallery describes itself as 'the little gallery with a lot of art', and its story is deeply tied to Christchurch's own resilience. The building at 1/16 Loftus Street in Papanui had been the studio of local artist Beverley Frost since 2004, but the major earthquakes that devastated central and eastern Christchurch changed its course. With so many of the city's art spaces lost, Beverley began inviting other Christchurch artists to share her space, and Art Box Gallery was born from that act of solidarity.

Fifteen Years, Sixty Artists

Now in its fifteenth year, Art Box represents around sixty New Zealand artists across a genuinely wide range of styles and subjects, organised into categories including landscapes and cityscapes, seascapes, abstracts, flora and fauna, people, and prints. The landscapes and cityscapes collection alone spans work capturing scenes from across the country — Lyttelton Harbour, the Southern Alps, Lake Coleridge, Mount Cook reflected in Lake Pukaki, and closer to home, New Regent Street and the Avon River — alongside pieces reaching further afield to Wanaka's Glendu Bay and even Porto. Mediums range from oil and acrylic on canvas or board through to watercolour, pen and mixed media, with framing styles from simple oak floating frames to handpainted box frames.

Prices span roughly NZ$30 to NZ$6,000, meaning the gallery genuinely caters to a wide range of budgets — from a first piece of original art through to a significant investment work. Beverley Frost's own work, including pieces like Towards Bossu and Alpine Rally, sits alongside that of the artists she's welcomed into the space over the years.

A Relaxed, Personal Gallery Experience

Visitors are assured of a warm welcome at Art Box, with a relaxed, friendly environment central to the gallery's identity. The building is on two levels with stairs only, but staff are happy to bring artwork down to the ground floor for anyone who needs it. Parking is available immediately underneath the building, with an additional visitor park nearby, making a visit straightforward for locals.

Increasingly, Art Box is also reaching art lovers well beyond Christchurch — collectors from other parts of New Zealand and countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, Japan and Majorca have all purchased work from the gallery, supported by a fully insured domestic and international courier service. Technology like the ArtPlacer App also lets the gallery show customers how a piece might look on their own wall, regardless of where they live. Whether visiting in person or from afar, Art Box Gallery continues its role as an enduring supporter of New Zealand creativity.

Signature items

• Towards Bossu
• Mount Cook Reflections in Lake Pukaki
• Southern Alps Splendour
• Porto III
• Country Vibe

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Landscapes & Cityscapes

• Country Vibe — Acrylic diptych on canvases by Christine Diedrichs.
• Moon Rising Over Lyttelton Harbour — Oil on canvas by Livia Dias.
• Easy Does It (New Regent St) — Mixed media on paper, unframed, by Christine King.
• Stand Proud — Oil on canvas by Sally Maguire.
• Towards Bossu — Acrylic on canvas in an oak-style floating frame, by Beverley Frost.
• Beyond Here — Acrylic texture on canvas with dark sides, by Janie Porter.
• Lake Coleridge — Acrylic on canvas by Christine Lang.
• Just Peachy (Antigua Boat Sheds) — Original mixed media on paper, unframed, by Christine King.
• Autumn in Waipara — Oil on canvas by Philip Beadle.
• Walking Karamea Tree — Oil on board by Kerry Fenton-Johns.
• Avon Punting — Acrylic on canvas by Polina Collins.
• Southern Alps Splendour — Acrylic on canvas by Christine Lang.
• Korimako Melody — Acrylic mixed media by Julie Whyman.
• The Sound Inside the Land — Acrylic on canvas by Stephanie Crisp.
• The Sand Hill — Acrylic on canvas by Ginney Deavoll, part of the Stewart Island Collection; prints can be requested.
• Pioneer — Acrylic on board with an oak floating frame, by Chris Chisnall.
• Canterbury Landscape I — Acrylic on backboard, handpainted box frame, no glass, by Stephanie Crisp.
• Towards Mt Grey from Waipara — Oil on canvas by Philip Beadle.
• Among Tussock and Time — Acrylic on canvas by Ginney Deavoll; prints can be requested.
• Mount Cook Reflections in Lake Pukaki — Oil on canvas by Vicki Andrews.
• Cool in the Shade — Acrylic on canvas by Santie Cronje.
• Alpine Rally — Acrylic on board with a floating oak frame, by Chris Chisnall.
• Old Man Range from Earnscleugh — Oil on board, framed in white, no glass, by Philip Beadle.
• Canterbury Landscape III — Acrylic on paper attached to backboard, handpainted frame, by Stephanie Crisp.
• New Regent Street — Oil on canvas, framed, by Jane McIntosh.
• Swimmers at Little Kaiteriteri — Acrylic on canvas by Christine Lang.
• Tram New Regents St — Acrylic on canvas by Polina Collins.
• Canterbury Landscape II — Acrylic painted on backboard, handpainted frame, no glass, by Stephanie Crisp.
• Oxford Street Lyttelton — Oil on board, framed with oak veneer, no glass, by Philip Beadle.
• Echoes of Evening 2 — Oil on round board by Amy Hoedemakers.
• Rocky Road — Acrylic on canvas by Santie Cronje.
• Christchurch Boys High — Acrylic on canvas by Rachel Jemmett.
• Autumn Gliders — Oil on canvas, framed, by Jane McIntosh.
• Sunset Over the Port Hills — Oil on canvas by Livia Dias.
• Looking Over Azaleas to Helmores Lane — Oil on canvas, framed, by Jane McIntosh.
• Echoes of Evening 7 — Oil on round board by Amy Hoedemakers.
• Riverside (Avon River/Oxford Terrace) — Oil on canvas by Mel McKenzie.
• Pounamu 2 — Oil on canvas by Jane Blackmore.
• Glendu Bay Looking to Mt Aspiring, Wanaka — Oil on board, framed in white, by Jane McIntosh.
• Southerly Blast — Oil on canvas by Jane Blackmore.
• Amongst the Trees — Acrylic on canvas by Christine Diedrichs.
• Beckenham Ladies — Acrylic on canvas by Rachel Jemmett.
• Porto III — Watercolour and pen, framed with glass and wooden frame, by Guy Eaden; can be part of a set and available as a limited edition print.
• Twilight Fishing, Glendu Bay Wanaka — Oil on board, framed in white, by Jane McIntosh.
• Porto II — Watercolour and pen by Guy Eaden.

Frequently asked questions

What are the gallery's opening hours?

Tuesday to Friday 11am-4pm, Saturday 11am-2pm, closed Sunday and Monday, with appointments available outside these times.

Is the gallery wheelchair accessible?

The gallery is on two levels with stairs only, but staff are happy to bring artwork to the ground floor to show visitors.

What is the price range of artworks?

Roughly NZ$30 to NZ$6,000, offering something for many budgets.

Can I buy art if I live outside Christchurch or overseas?

Yes, the gallery offers a fully insured domestic and international courier service and has shipped to customers in the US, UK, Australia, Thailand, Japan and Majorca.

Is parking available?

Yes, parking is available immediately underneath the building, plus an additional visitor park.

How did Art Box Gallery start?

It began after the Christchurch earthquakes, when artist Beverley Frost invited other local artists to share her studio space.

Can I see how a painting would look on my wall before buying?

Yes, the gallery uses the ArtPlacer App to show customers an impression of artwork in their own space.

Tips

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• {"body":"Special arrangements and home visits can be made by contacting the gallery directly.","title":"Book an appointment outside normal hours"}
• {"body":"The gallery offers fully insured domestic and international courier delivery.","title":"Overseas or out of town? Shipping is available"}
• {"body":"Artworks are organised into landscapes and cityscapes, seascapes, abstracts, flora and fauna, people, and prints.","title":"Browse by category to narrow your search"}

Good to know

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