Portraits in Focus – Christchurch Portrait Painters’ Group: 3 – 29 November

For over two decades, this dedicated group of artists has gathered weekly in Opawa to explore the art of portraiture. Working across pencil, pastel, oil, acrylic, and watercolour, members range from emerging talents to award-winning practitioners – each bringing their own style, experience, and curiosity.

 

The group thrives on shared insight and quiet exchange, learning through observation, conversation, and the rhythm of practice. Sitters, invited from all walks of life, often bring personal objects and stories, resulting in portraits that are as varied as they are intimate.

 

This exhibition showcases recent works by 11 artists that reflect the spontaneity, generosity, and interpretive richness of the group’s sessions. It’s a celebration of likeness, difference, and the enduring power of looking closely.