The Dowse Foundation Announces $100,000 Major Art Commission To Bring Shane Cotton Into The Dowse Collection

The Dowse Foundation has announced its second Major Art Commission, a landmark $100,000 award that will see a major new work by renowned Aotearoa artist Shane Cotton (Ngāpuhi, b. 1964) created for The Dowse Art Museum collection.

For a museum with a modest annual acquisitions budget, the Major Art Commission represents a rare opportunity to acquire a significant new work at a scale that would not otherwise be possible. Funded through the generosity of benefactors and community supporters, the award enables the Foundation to continue championing ambitious contemporary art in Aotearoa — even in a challenging political and economic climate.

While the commission is set at $100,000 — a significant fundraising target — comparable works by Shane Cotton sell privately for well over double this amount. Cotton has chosen to work with the Foundation at this level because he wants to see a major work enter The Dowse collection. This reflects both his generosity and his deep connection to the Hutt Valley, where he grew up.

The Dowse Foundation welcomes support from donors to help bring this commission to life. Contributions from the public are vital to achieving this ambitious goal and ensuring the work becomes a lasting part of our national art history.

“This new commission brings an important voice into the collection — an artist who represents both the canon of New Zealand art history and a deep connection to the Hutt Valley. The work speaks to his tūpuna, bridging his roots in the north with his childhood here, and reflects exciting shifts in his current practice. It is exactly the kind of work that should be represented in the national record.” says Corinne Cole, Dowse Foundation Chair

Cotton’s new painting will depict Whatonga, a legendary Māori navigator, surrounded by manaia and taniwha figures, foliage, and text referencing ancestral names and places connected to Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour) and Te Awa Kairangi (the Hutt River). The work will also reference Nuku Tewhatewha, the great carved pātaka on permanent display at The Dowse — linking ancestral taonga with contemporary practice and reflecting both resistance and unity.

The commission holds special resonance for Cotton, who was born and raised in the Hutt Valley. His practice, which blends Māori and European visual traditions, explores identity, spirituality, and cultural memory — themes that speak deeply to both the local community and the wider national art story.

“It’s meaningful to have a work enter The Dowse collection. I was born in Upper Hutt, and my mother’s side of the family is from Lower Hutt, so there’s a long connection to this area and to Te Awa Kairangi. For me, this is a bit more than just having work in another collection — it’s something personal. It feels significant, a way of acknowledging that connection and giving something back,” says Shane Cotton.

The first Major Art Commission, awarded in 2021 to Fiona Pardington, resulted in the suite of works Te Whitinga o te Pō (The Shining Lady of the Night) — now a highlight of The Dowse Collection. This second commission continues that legacy, filling important gaps in the collection and ensuring The Dowse continues to represent the region’s rich histories and creative voices at the highest level.

“These commissions are so important for our collection. They allow us to present stories that have resonance for our local communities but that also connect with our visitors from Aotearoa and around the world. The Dowse also has a special relationship with Shane after hosting his major solo exhibition Te Puāwai at the gallery as part of our 50th Anniversary programme in 2021,” says Dowse Director Karl Chitham

This is the second in a series of ongoing commissions by The Dowse Foundation, which aims to deliver a new major artwork every 2–4 years.

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