Join us on Friday, 15 August at 5 PM to celebrate Marcus Tatton’s stunning new sculpture show—an evening of art, conversation, and connection

Marcus Tatton – Return to Aotearoa
12 August – 7 September

Internationally acclaimed sculptor Marcus Tatton returns to his King Country roots with a breath-taking exhibition that bridges lands, stories, and generations.

Tatton was a wild King Country lad when he first enrolled in Art School in Dunedin in the mid-1980s. After two years, he set his sights on a Fine Arts course in Tasmania, where he studied from 1987 to 1990. Now, four decades later, he returns to Aotearoa with a rich legacy of sculptural practice and deep connections to the whenua.

Currently the Artist in Residence at Waitakaruru Sculpture Park near Tauwhare, Marcus is crafting a body of work that explores rural kaitiakitanga across both Tasmanian and Aotearoa landscapes. His sculptures draw on the shared ancestry of tree species—Nothofagus, Phyllocladus, and Dacrydium—relatives of our native beech, manoao, tanekaha, and rimu. These forms echo ancient Gondwanan ties and speak to the enduring relationship between land and people.

“When I first arrived in Tasmania, they were teaching the qualities of their rare rainforest timbers. I thought, ‘No, Aotearoa’s native woods are the remarkable ones.’ But as I worked with both, I realised they’re deeply connected—equally remarkable.”

The connections run deeper than timber. Tatton’s great-grandfather was a ship’s doctor and dentist who travelled to Tasmania before settling in Nelson in the 1850s. Generations later, Marcus’s father Hone Tatton purchased bushland in Ongarue—land that Marcus now stewards and carves upon.

This exhibition is a celebration of those layered connections: across oceans, through whakapapa, and within the grain of the wood itself. Each sculpture invites us to reflect on the stories embedded in the land, the materials, and the hands that shape them.

Come and experience these powerful works—crafted with reverence, rooted in history, and resonant with meaning.

Cow Art Festival 2025: Stage One Complete!

Thanks to our incredible community, the first stage of the Cow Art Festival 2025 was a joyful celebration of creativity, culture, and connection in the heart of the Mighty Waikato.

🌟Your generosity empowers us to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming farming district—where art, culture, and tourism flourish side by side.

🌟 Join the Morrinsville Gallery family and help shape the future of our region through creativity, collaboration, and community spirit.

Over sixteen talented local artists have been painting our beloved cow live, guided by curator Elizabeth Borrows and supported by our dedicated Fundraising Committee. This vibrant journey will culminate in the grand unveiling of our newly renovated cow—currently known as "Mooloo"—this October.

"Mooloo" will debut a stunning new design and a brand-new name, continuing her proud legacy as part of one of New Zealand’s most dynamic street art projects: the Morrinsville Herd of Cows.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Colin and Sharyn Fabish from Professionals Real Estate Morrinsville for generously transferring ownership of "Mooloo" to the gallery.

We also celebrate the champions of well-being and connection across the Waikato. Our deepest gratitude goes to the Seales Family Trust, Saz Kebab, Bayleys Real Estate, House of Travel, Resene, Health and Safety Connexions, Power Farming for their generous support of the Cow Art Festival 2025.

💛 A special note of appreciation to all the artists, volunteers, and financial supporters who have made this festival possible. Your passion and commitment continue to inspire.

📞 Yes, you can still join us!
Contact Gina Barreto: 027 889 7791
📧 director@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz

Together, we’re shaping a vibrant future—one brushstroke at a time.

Thank you for your unwavering support over the past 15 years. Your generosity has made all the difference—and together, we’re shaping a brighter, more creative future for the Mighty Waikato.

Picture Credits
Huge thanks to artists Elisa Hyde-Hills, Alicia Weir, Summer Okey, Bernadette Ballantyne, Stevie Fiske, Liz Borrows, Las Flamencas performers Laura García de Mora and Pepa Torre, volunteer Jeanette Crook, Saz from Saz Kebab, Your Way Kia Roha team, Brenda Johnson, Liz Borrows and Cathy Balvert for their amazing support and vibrant contributions!