Mangaweka Gallery

Some places thrive on personality, and Mangaweka Gallery has it in spades. Better known to many as the Yellow Church, this bright and irreverent space has spent the past two decades proving that not all art galleries have to feel hushed or overly serious.

Opened in 2006 by resident artist and musician Richard Aslett, the gallery occupies a former church that stopped him in his tracks mid-road trip - and never let go. It’s hardly surprising, given the bright yellow cladding catches the eye of the more than 5,600 vehicles that drive along SH1 every day. Inside, it lands somewhere between professional exhibition space, collector’s treasure trove, and a place where someone might very genuinely strike up a conversation about screenprints or music, while wearing walk shorts and knee-high socks. There’s a looseness to it all that feels refreshing, and no one takes themselves too seriously. The space embraces the building’s history rather than polishing it away, with artworks sharing space alongside antiques, curios, old records, books, ceramics, gift cards, and the sort of objects that encourage a prolonged browse rather than a quick lap.

The works on display range from thoughtful and deeply moving to gloriously mischievous. Exhibitions exploring New Zealand’s wartime history sit comfortably alongside the gallery’s now-legendary biennial Fakes & Forgeries competition, a playful national celebration inspired by Mangaweka-born art forger Karl Sim. The premise? Reimagine, reinterpret, or lovingly imitate famous works, often with a wink firmly intact. It’s become something of a cult event, drawing entries from across New Zealand and way beyond.

What makes Mangaweka Gallery special isn’t simply the art itself, but the commitment to inject creativity and humour into every conversation and every brush stroke. You might discover a striking painting, stumble across an unexpected antique, or become privy to an in-joke about New Zealand’s ‘walk shorts and socks revival’ - all in one visit. It’s art with personality: delightfully unpretentious, a little eccentric, and all the better for it.