Exhibition detail
In this Aotearoa New Zealand exclusive exhibition, experience the extravagance and breath-taking fashion of globally renowned Chinese designer Guo Pei. Drawing on influences from around the world and using extraordinary fabrics and bejewelled embroidery, Guo Pei’s striking garments are truly wearable works of art.
Be transported from the fashion runway into the Gallery to encounter more than 60 of Guo Pei’s unique garments up close. Showcasing exceptional artistry and imagination Guo Pei’s creations could have been conjured from a fairy tale or floated out of a dream.
From billowing dresses adorned with intricate patterns to bodysuits evoking mythical creatures, these outstanding garments demonstrate two decades of artistic output by a designer who takes inspiration from Imperial China, European art and the botanical world. Guo Pei has designed for royalty and celebrities, including Rihanna’s 2015 Met Gala Yellow Queen gown – which is included in the exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 presents the designer’s most innovative and visually intoxicating ensembles created from 2005 to 2020. Drawing her themes from nature, mythology, and European and Asian clothing traditions, Guo Pei leads viewers on a wondrous journey through dreamscapes, magical gardens, and transformative encounters. Welcome to the astonishing world of Guo Pei.
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 is organised by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with significant support from the Asian Couture Federation.
The exhibition is proudly supported by Singapore Airlines, Cordis Hotels, Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, Omnigraphics and Asia New Zealand Foundation.
About
In this Aotearoa New Zealand exclusive exhibition, experience the extravagant, breath-taking fashions of globally renowned Chinese designer Guo Pei. Drawing on influences from around the world and incorporating extraordinary fabrics and bejewelled embroidery, Guo Pei’s striking ensembles of clothing, shoes and jewellery are truly wearable works of art.
Be transported from the fashion runway into the Gallery to encounter more than 60 of Guo Pei’s unique garments up close. Romantic, with billowing skirts and delicate embroidery or seductive and form-fitting, Guo Pei’s gowns are the stuff of fantasy. Jewel-like flowers, cosmic landscapes, and mythical creatures ravish the senses and inspire the imagination.
A sought-after designer for royalty, film stars and celebrities, Guo Pei’s Yellow Queen gown worn by Rihanna to the 2015 Met Gala is showcased in the exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Also on display are outfits never previously exhibited in any museum.
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 presents the designer’s most innovative and visually intoxicating ensembles created from 2005 to 2020. Drawing her themes from nature, mythology, and European and Asian clothing traditions, Guo Pei leads viewers on a wondrous journey through dreamscapes, magical gardens, and transformative encounters. Welcome to the astonishing world of Guo Pei.
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 is organised by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with significant support from the Asian Couture Federation.
The exhibition is proudly supported by Singapore Airlines, Rolls-Royce, Cordis Hotels, Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, Viva, Omnigraphics, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Asia New Zealand Foundation. The exhibition is presented in association with Auckland Arts Festival 2024.
Image © Guo Pei. Courtesy of Guo Pei.
Tickets
Members FREE – Become a Member
Adults $24.50
Seniors and Community Card holders $20.50
Students (with Student ID) $20.50
Children 12 and under FREE
Please note, all children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
How to book
Tickets are now on sale and are available for purchase online and onsite from the Gallery’s information desk on our Ground level.
Please note, we’re operating a timed-entry system for this exhibition with entry available every 15 minutes. Your ticket gives you entry to the exhibition once and you may arrive up to 5 minutes after the time you have selected. Entry after this time will be at the Gallery’s discretion. There is no limit to the length of time you spend in the exhibition. The Gallery closes at 5pm daily.
For updates on on-the-day ticket availability, please call +64 9 307 7700.
If you have pre-booked your ticket online, you can head straight to the exhibition on Level 1 to validate your ticket for entry.
More information
Prices include GST. Online credit card fees are additional to the admission price.
There is no entry charge for children aged 12 or under, however you will need to select a FREE child ticket type when booking in advance online. Please note all children aged 14 or under must be accompanied by an adult.
Auckland Art Gallery Members go FREE. Members with a guest pass may also bring their guest for FREE. Please choose the FREE Member ticket type when booking in advance online. Alternatively, present your membership card at our information desk on the day of your visit and you will be issued with a ticket to the exhibition.
Join us as a Member on the same day as your visit to Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 and we’ll refund the price of your exhibition ticket. Members receive a range of benefits, including free unlimited entry to paid exhibitions, invitations to Members-only events, access to the Members lounge, and discounts in our shop and café. Ask us for more information while on your visit to the exhibition.
What visitors are saying about Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Visiting
Groups
For groups of more than 10 people, please book at least two weeks in advance of your visit to secure entry to this exhibition. To make a group booking, please complete our online booking form.
Discounted entry is only available for groups who book in advance:
Adults: $22.00
Seniors and Community Services Card Holders: $19.00
Unbooked groups are charged standard admission prices.
Primary, Secondary, Tertiary group bookings
Please book at least two weeks in advance of your visit to secure entry to this exhibition. Advance booking is essential to guarantee entry and very large groups may need to be admitted into the exhibition in smaller groups. We reserve the right to add extra staff to supervise large groups. To make a group booking, please complete our online booking form.
Discounted entry is only available for groups who book in advance:
Primary school group students: No charge
Secondary school group students: $10
Tertiary group students: $10
Separate charges may apply for accompanying teachers and adults.
Teacher/adult-to-student ratios apply:
Years 1-4 / Ages 5-9 – 1:6
Years 5-7 / Ages 10-11 – 1:7
Years 7-10 / Ages 12-15 – 1:10
Years 11-13 / Ages 16-18 – 1:30
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 is on show at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki from Saturday 9 December 2023 – Sunday 5 May 2024. The exhibition is open during normal Gallery hours, 10am–5pm daily.
Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦 is located on Level 1.
Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase online and onsite from the Gallery’s information desk on our Ground level.
Please note, we’re operating a timed-entry system for this exhibition with entry available every 15 minutes. Your ticket gives you entry to the exhibition once and you may arrive up to 5 minutes after the time you have selected. Entry after this time will be at the Gallery’s discretion. There is no limit to the length of time you spend in the exhibition. The Gallery closes at 5pm daily.
Yes, we have a specially developed audio guide for Guo Pei: Fashion, Art, Fantasy 郭培 ：时装之幻梦. The guide includes 27 engaging tracks describing Guo Pei’s seasonal collections, individual gowns and the many stories and symbols that inspire her remarkable work.
You can hire the audio guide at the Gallery’s front desk or in advance online via our ticketing page. Please note, if you hire the audio guide in advance, will need to see a Gallery Assistant when you arrive at the Gallery to obtain the access code.
The cost to hire is $8 if using your own device and $12 if you would like to hire a Gallery device. Gallery devices are not available to hire in advance and are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please bring your own headphones if using your own device.
Yes. Children aged 12 and under are FREE. Please note that children aged under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets allow single entry to the exhibition. However, you are welcome to spend as long in the exhibition as you need. The Gallery closes at 5pm daily.