Join Ben Chavasse at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for Music of the month, celebrating the opening weekend of Picasso Designed by Paul Smith.

The Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland singer-songwriter will perform a one-hour set of soulful jazz numbers. 

Ben’s lyric-forward songwriting draws on indie folk, with influences including Joanna Newsom, Alex G, Japanese Breakfast and Tiny Ruins, alongside elements of rock, punk and jazz. His songs explore self-discovery, mental health and relationships through an introspective and vulnerable lens. 

For Ben, songwriting is a way of making sense of the communities and experiences that have shaped him. At its core, his music is about relating, empathising and connecting with others. 

This free, family-friendly event offers the chance to discover a new artist or reconnect with a favourite. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. If you need help finding the location, ask a Gallery Assistant for directions. 

Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith

Picasso like you’ve never seen him before. Encounter the Blue and Rose periods, Cubism, portraits and more in the first solo exhibition of Picasso’s work in Aotearoa New Zealand in more than 30 years.  

Bringing together outstanding works from the Musée national Picasso–Paris in a special collaboration with legendary British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, the exhibition unfolds across atmospheric rooms that draw on the colours, shapes, patterns and textures of Picasso's artworks. Smith’s experiments with light, colour, shape, feeling and his Signature Stripe reimagine how we experience the artworks.

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This exhibition is organised by Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso–Paris.