Haere mai
Welcome to Artisphere
Beautiful things take time, and place. Its no wonder then that an island in the Hauraki Gulf, who’s welcoming motto is: Slow down. You’re here, should also be an island of art.
Artisphere is run by Michelle Barber and Brent Simpson. We have a long history of arts involvement on Waiheke Island and abroad. From running events connecting artists with buyers on Waiheke Island, planning and running fund-raising art auctions and events for The Jassy Dean Trust, to our support of local musicians, and young artists, collectively we have been supporting the arts on Waiheke Island, Aotearoa/New Zealand for over 20 years!
So Slow Down, experience the art we have online, read about the artists we support, and let us help you add a piece of Waiheke to your home, wherever you are in Aotearoa.
Artisphere Ltd. is a New Zealand based art consultancy company. We organise exhibitions and work with Waiheke Island artists to market their artwork to Aotearoa/New Zealand and the world.
Founded in 2021.
About Artisphere.
Artisphere was created with the idea of supporting Waiheke artists.
Through our public events, pop-up shows, and marketing and promotion on social media, we have established strong working relationships with a number of artists across Waiheke Island. With the support of local community media like The Gulf News, and Waiheke Radio, Artisphere has established itself as a vehicle for the promotion of fine art on Waiheke Island.
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Michelle Barber
ARTISPHERE DIRECTOR
BA Art History, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Michelle Barber has been producing events for the last 25 years. She holds a BA in The History of Art and Architecture from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Michelle is also the Arts Columnist for the Waiheke Gulf News.
Before starting Artisphere Michelle was the Event and Fundraising Manager for the Waiheke Garden Festival and Waiheke Art in the Garden for over 10 years where she met many of the Waiheke artists on Artisphere’s radar.
Michelle also owns Island Design which supports Aotearoa/New Zealand designers and small businesses.
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Brent Simpson
ARTISPHERE TECHNICAL
Master of Arts, Media Studies, University of Auckland.
BA English Literature, UCLA.
Grad. Dip Teaching (Secondary), U of A.
Brent Simpson teaches English, Media, and Design at Waiheke High School, and is also the staff representative on the Waiheke High School Board of Trustees. He is also Trustee for Waiheke Radio, part-time poet/painter, full time art lover, and father of two.
INSTAGRAM: @simpson.studio1b
An island of artists.
The stunning white sand beaches and scenic coastlines, the rolling vineyards and relaxed locals, are all features of Waiheke Island, New Zealand. It is no wonder then that the island is also a haven for artists and creatives. Painters and potters, musicians and playwrights abound; and artists from all over Aotearoa and the world have made Waiheke their home over the past 100 years.
Waiheke Island is located 17km from the Auckland city's downtown piers. It is the second largest island in the Hauraki Gulf after Great Barrier Island, and its proximity to Auckland means it has become New Zealand's third most populated island. The island has an area of 9300 hectares and a permanent population of around 8000 residents, and is also a popular tourist destination. The tourist guidebook Frommers promoted Waiheke as one of its top 10 tourist destinations in 2009.
Waiheke has been coveted as a strategic locale for settlement, as a land rich in natural resources and immense natural beauty, and as a supportive environment for alternative views and lifestyles. These features often capture the dreams and imaginations of artists, many of whom live and work on the island.