Fifty-four talented artists from Tairua to Whangapoua will open their studios during the annual Mercury Bay Art Escape. Plan your art trail to discover amazing art, engage with artists in their creative spaces, and purchase original art directly at the source.
The Mercury Bay Art Escape promises to be an exciting creative experience for visitors. There is something for everyone, with a diverse array of art on show, including potters, sculptors, artisan blacksmiths, painters, photographers, silk painters, weavers, woodworkers, mosaic artists, jewellers, and glass artists.
Artist’s studios are open from 10 am to 4 pm over the weekends of 1st, 2nd 8, 8th and 9th of March 2025. Look for the official blue ‘Art Escape’ flag outside artist’s studios. Mercury Bay Art Escape 2025 opens with the annual Gala Event on Friday, 28th of February 6.00 pm at Hot Waves Cafe, Hot Water Beach. Our keynote speaker this year is acclaimed Pasifika artist Jeff Lockhart. Jeff’s art is influenced by tapa designs, tatau, symbols, motifs, and the colours of the Pacific, as well as the land and flora around us.
Tickets to the Gala opening are still available. They include one complimentary drink, canapes, an auction (one of the auction items is a fabulous piece of art by Jeff Lockhart), live music, and the opportunity to mingle and meet artists. Several artists will be in residence at Hot Waves Café, Hot Water Beach, from 9 am to 3 pm from the 3rd to 7th of March. During this time, member artists will demonstrate their work and encourage budding artists to consider membership. The support of Hot Waves Café has been invaluable. What a fabulous venue for the forthcoming gala Opening night and our Showcase Exhibition. The Showcase Exhibition runs from 1st March until April 21st at Hot Waves Café with one piece from each member on display.
For information on the 2025 Mercury Bay Art Escape, to view artists and their work, to download the guide with detailed local maps, or to buy tickets to the Gala Opening, visit the Mercury Bay Art Escape website:
Come along, discover amazing art you’ll love, and meet the artists.
If you miss the March Open Studios, most artists are open by appointment at times during the year and welcome visitors. An enormous thank you to our sponsors: Bayleys, Guthrie Bowron, Coromandel CFM, Basker; Kūaotunu Bay Lodge; Create Digital, The Coromandel Informer, Hot Waves Café;
Hot Water Beach TOP 10; Gather Curated Workshops; Toy World Whitianga; The Pour House, Hahei; Stephensons Unichem Whitianga; Mercury Twin Cinema, and You Travel, Whitianga.
Facebook: @mercurybayartescape
Instagram: @mercurybayartescape
