Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts celebrates and amplifies the plural artistic voices of the United States.

Opening with an iconic 1948 drip painting by Jackson Pollock and closing with a poignant sculptural assemblage by the Alabama-based artist Thornton Dial, this landmark presentation of 52 compelling works from the world-renowned Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers a comprehensive overview of the principal themes and styles shaping American art since 1945.  

A major cultural event for Aotearoa New Zealand, this special exhibition includes high-quality examples of Abstract Expressionism, Pop and Minimalism along with richly textured paintings by Pattern and Decoration artists, hyper-detailed canvases by 1970s Photorealists, and contemporary figurative pieces that explore questions of identity, power and representation. Showcasing 28 works by women and African American and Indigenous artists, Pop to Present places well-known names in conversation with figures from diverse backgrounds to provide a more inclusive account of recent American art.  

Artists featured in this broad and nuanced survey include Benny Andrews, Rosalyn Drexler, Elaine de Kooning, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Gilliam, Philip Guston, Barkley L. Hendricks, Norman Lewis, Roy Lichtenstein, Virgil Ortiz, Howardena Pindell, Martin Puryear, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Mark Rothko, Kiki Smith, Clyfford Still, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol and Jack Whitten.

Pop to Present is organised by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia. It is curated by Alexis Assam, Regina A. Perrry Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Dr. Sarah G. Powers, Exhibition Curator. Kenneth Brummel, Curator of International Art, is the co-ordinating curator at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. The exhibition is presented in association with Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2026, and proudly supported by Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, Omnigraphics, Rova and Stuff.

Image credit: Barkley L. Hendricks, Sisters (Susan and Toni) (installation view), 1977, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Funds contributed by Mary and Donald Shockey, Jr., 2010.7 © Barkley L. Hendricks. Courtesy of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

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Pricing

Adults (New Zealanders) $29.50
Adults (International tourists) $34.50
Members – FREE 
Seniors and Community Card holders $25.50
Students (with Student ID) $25.50
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. 

BUY TICKETS

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.

If needed, you can change the date or time of your booking for free using the link sent with your online ticket purchase. Alternatively, you can call our Gallery team for assistance on +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. To guarantee entry at your preferred time, please book a free Member ticket online in advance. Alternatively, present your membership card at our information desk on the day of your visit and you will be issued a ticket to the exhibition as soon as possible. Members have priority but please note that there might be a wait time when the exhibition is at capacity.

BUY MEMBERSHIP

Join us as a Member on the same day as your visit to Pop to Present 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.

Special promotions

Quadruple Elvis Comeback Special: Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 January 2026

In honour of Andy Warhol's Triple Elvis, featured in Pop to Present, we're holding a special promotion to celebrate The King of Rock and Roll's birthday.

Inspired by Warhol's work, the Gallery invites you to become the art and take it from a Triple Elvis to a Quadruple Elvis. From Thursday 8 January to Sunday 11 January, anyone who comes dressed in their best Elvis getup will receive 50% off their entry to Pop to Present. Think: sunglasses, sideburns and slicked hair. Dust off the jumpsuit and leather jacket and join us for a weekend of Pop-inspired fun.

Please note this promotion is available for door sales only.

Student special: Half price tickets every Tuesday

Every Tuesday, Pop to Present tickets are half price for students. This includes students age 13 and up, including tertiary students. 

This promotion is valid for door sales only to students with valid student ID. Please note children age 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

 

 

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 available for groups who book in advance:

Adults: $27.50

Seniors, Community Groups and Community Services Card Holders: $23.50

Please note, discounted entry only applies for groups booked two weeks in advance. 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

We are offering a dedicated 50-min tour of this exhibition for secondary students. Book now using our online booking form, subject to availability.

We have a specially developed audio tour for Pop to Present.

You can hire the audio guide at the Gallery’s front desk or in advance online. 

HIRE AUDIO TOUR

This tour costs $7 or $6.30 if you are a Gallery Member*. You can use your own smartphone or borrow a device from the Gallery for no additional cost. Please bring your own headphones. * Member discount not available online.

How it works:

• The tour is available in English only.
• If you purchase the tour online prior to visiting the Gallery, you’ll need to display your ticket to staff at the front desk to receive an access code.
• Please bring your own headphones (both if using your own device or if renting one).
• If you would like to rent a device, please see staff at the Gallery’s front desk. You will need to fill out a registration form with your name and mobile number so we can track which device you have. You will need to return the borrowed device to the front desk after use. There is limited stock of devices to hire, so these are available on a first come first served basis. 
• There is no time limit on the day for access.