Toi Ora Live Art Trust

25/05/2026

Come to our Toi Ora Gallery, and check out our latest exhibition from our Screenprinting Artists!

Already two red dots - congratulations on your sales, Matthew! Get in quick to get your original, affordable artwork 💜

On now until 12 June ✨

21/05/2026

Creativity is not a luxury; it is an essential part of wellbeing.

A two-hour creative class at Toi Ora costs around $60, compared with more than $2000 for an overnight hospital stay. Our new Toi Ora Impact Report 2024–25 highlights the effectiveness of creative programmes to boost wellbeing.

While acute mental health care remains essential, preventative and community-based approaches also matter. Creative spaces like Toi Ora are an important part of a holistic response to mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are deeply grateful to our Toi Ora whānau who make this work possible.

Read the report:

19/05/2026

We want to brag that Wendy sold her Freddie Mercury for $50! Go Wendy 💜✨
👀 p.s get your original, affordable artwork from the Toi Ora Gallery shop: https://toiora.org.nz/shop/

The Toi Ora Gallery Shop presents an opportunity to discover affordable, original art from emerging artists. Each piece represents a moment on an artist's journey of creativity for wellbeing. Consider making a purchase to show your support for Toi Ora artists.

13/05/2026

Did you know that Toi Ora offers creative classes beyond our Grey Lynn studio? Thanks to funding from Health NZ, we can offer two 'satellite' classes in the community.

Pictured is a Toi Ora painting and drawing class at Te Ata in West Auckland, a peer- led community support centre for people with mental health challenges.

Each week the group look at a different artist and uses it as inspiration for their own creations. We love everyone's work! 💜✨

12/05/2026

Our Toi Hono class got out into the fresh air to harvest harakeke.

Guided by tutor Lisa, the group learned tikanga about the importance of respect, sustainability and the elements of tapu surrounding harvesting harakeke.

They'll use their harvest in their art projects, and we can't wait to see what they create 💜✨

06/05/2026

We had a wonderful time at Printopia, selling just under $500 of Toi Ora artwork.

Our first sale of the day was from NZ artist Evan Woodruffe who bought 'Stinky Fart Face' by Haleigh Newth.

A big thank you to Joelle for running our stall 💜✨

04/05/2026

The shoe is on the other foot!
Come and see the creative pursuits of Toi Ora tutors and staff, the people who support our artists in their creativity and wellbeing journeys.

What: Staff & Tutor Exhibition
When: 11 - 22 May
Where: Toi Ora Gallery, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn

Artwork by our wonderful tutor EK!

03/05/2026

HUMANS OF TOI ORA: Mars Cook put the Harbour Bridge in drag for Auckland Pride

Did you know the artist behind the light display on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge for Pride is our very own Mars Cook?

This year’s Pride coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Homos*xual Law Reform, and it was amazing to have the privilege to create public art for such a meaningful event says Mars.

“The passing of homos*xual law reform in the 80s is something that was a long hard fight to get. Because of work activists and advocates and members of our community put in, I got to grow up in a society where locking up people for having consensual s*x seemed ridiculous.”

Mars has been coming to Toi Ora since he was 14.

Read his story: https://toiora.org.nz/toi-ora-artist-mars-cook-put-the-harbour-bridge-in-drag/

28/04/2026

Have you seen the Toi Ora artwork that’s displayed at Queen’s Wharf near the downtown ferry terminal?

If one of them caught your eye, you could buy the original at our shop!

Here's some of them in order of appearance:

1. Bay of Quiet Herd by Sharon Shih, $640
2. Untitled Rock by Jon-Paul Moses, $150
3. Love and Understanding by Ana Ferrari, $50
4. Untitled Abstract by Deelnoor Ahmed, $100
5. The Winding Path by Moose Wilson, $70
6. Untitled Sunset by Phillip Jarvis, $180
7. Remember to live, remember you must die by Felix Crozier, $350
8. Piha Connection by Heather Gordon-Freeborn, $70
9. Deathly Night Air by Zet Makkink, $100
10. Rainbow Cloud by Burnetta Van Stipriaan, $170

Check them all out, and buy now in our shop: https://toiora.org.nz/shop/

20/04/2026

A big congratulations to Toi Ora artist Ana Ferrari for her exhibition at Depot Artspace in Devonport ✨💜

Her exhibition Inkpressions is on now until April 22 - go and check it out ☺️

13/04/2026

Come see what our Paint the Sky artists have been creating!

What: Paint the Sky Exhibition
When: 20 April - 5 May, Opening 21 April, 11am
Where: Toi Ora Gallery, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland

See you there!