Open Late: In the Web of Louise Bourgeois
6—9pm
event Details
Step into the surreal world of Louise Bourgeois – an iconic artist who transformed memory, identity and emotion into raw, unforgettable art.
To celebrate the opening of Louise Bourgeois: In Private View, we’re hosting our biggest Open Late of the year. Expect bold vibes, immersive experiences and a celebration of creativity that’s anything but ordinary.
What to expect:
- Live music, DJ sets and dance
- Food trucks serving up delicious eats and a pop-up bar
- Performances and workshops that dive deep into Bourgeois’ world
No booking needed – just show up and get swept up by an evening of art, energy and exploration.
Check back here soon for the full programme – we’ll be dropping all the details shortly.
Open Lates are proudly supported by Auckland Council and the City Centre Targeted Rate.
- Date
- Location
- Te Ātea | North Atrium
- Cost
- Free

Scarlett
6–6.45pm & 7.50–8.30pm
Te Ātea | North Atrium
Join us for sets from renowned Tāmaki Makaurau DJ, Scarlett. As a former member of Friendly Potential, Run With The Wolves and the ninthWavesound – Aotearoa's first-ever feminist sound system, Scarlett is a verified music weapon. She’s played in support of Marcellus Pittman, Regal 86, Toy Tonics, Luca Lozano, JNETT, Eris Drew, Nina Kraviz, Valentino Mora, as well as at countless local parties, festivals and she currently helms ‘Love Language’ alongside bestie Carlotta on 95bFM.
@georginacostanza
@lovelanguage95bfm
Photography by Emily Raftery

Young Members | On the Radar w/ Claudia Jowitt
6–6.45pm (talk starts at 6.15pm)
Members Lounge
Get to know a featured artist and what’s on their radar – from the art on their walls, to favourite local hangs, to beats on repeat in the studio. Our first guest: Claudia Jowitt!
Expect good vibes, great conversation, and a drink in hand. Whether you’re deep in the arts scene or just curious, you’ll leave with a handful of new things to explore and a spark of inspiration to follow.
Presentation by art enthusiast and curator Ruth Minh Ha. On the Radar is part of our Young Members programme. Drinks by our friends from Almighty.
Image: Claudia Jowitt, photo by Jonathan Edgell

Isla Noon
6.50–7.30pm
Te Ātea | North Atrium
Intelligent, intuitive and searingly honest. Those are the words that come to mind when talking about Aotearoa New Zealand musician Isla Noon. Noon’s specialty lies in electrifying melodic hooks and razor-sharp lyricism, with a songwriting and production process that is an extension of her personality – diligent, deeply emotive and self-assured. Described by Undertheradar as ‘a synesthetic electronic pop universe’, Noon’s immersive 2025 debut album Out of Body unpacks themes of identity, the body and the winding path back to yourself. The artist’s anthemic craft has earned both international and local acclaim, heralded by Rolling Stone Australia as ‘a powerhouse of indie-pop songwriting’.
@isla.noon
Photography by Tom Grut

Body Island
7.35–7.45pm | 8.35–8.45pm
Te Ātea | North Atrium
Body Island is an Aotearoa-based movement company founded by Kelly Nash and Nancy Wijohn. Rooted in somatic practice, trauma-informed bodywork and interdisciplinary collaboration, Body Island creates performance and film works that explore how memory lives in the bones and how transformation can be enacted through touch, sensation and movement. Drawing from Māori cosmology, ConTact C.A.R.E. principles, and choreographic rigour, their work centres the body as both archive and instrument of repair.
For this event, Body Island presents a new duet developed in response to the sculpture and writings of Louise Bourgeois. The performance channels Bourgeois’s quote, ‘I am not what I am, I am what I do with my hands’, positioning the hands as sites of negotiation, perception and truth. Merging movement with reworked costuming from Te Hā Te Kā, their work investigates how garments, bones, and touch carry personal and ancestral history into shared spaces of embodiment.
@bodyislandnz
Photography by Kelly Nash

The Art of the Arachnid | In collaboration with Auckland Zoo
6.20—6.40pm | 7—7.20pm
Auditorium
Join us for a unique evening where art meets the wild. Hear from one of Auckland Zoo’s Conservation Learning facilitators who will explore the misunderstood world of spiders—animals often feared, yet vital to our ecosystems.
In connection with Auckland Art Gallery’s new exhibition on Louise Bourgeois and her iconic spider sculptures, this event will delve into the symbolism of spiders in art and culture, and how we can reframe our perceptions of these fascinating animals. Through a special live-stream direct from Auckland Zoo, guests will also be treated to a preview of the Zoo’s newly arrived Goliath bird-eating spiders – the world’s longest and heaviest spider!
As Tātaki Auckland Unlimited colleagues, Auckland Art Gallery and Auckland Zoo are delighted to be teaming up to bring art and animal lovers alike this experience that aims to spark curiosity, challenge fears and celebrate the extraordinary and unexpected beauty of the natural world.

Puppet Making | Sarah Cowie
6–8.45pm
South Atrium
Experiment with form and fabric to create imaginative puppet creatures. Join artist Sarah Cowie in this beginner-friendly puppet making drop-in activity. You will learn how to manipulate and shape fabric to create whimsical rod puppets inspired by Sarah’s art practice. Sarah Cowie is a multi-disciplinary artist and art tutor based in Tāmaki Makaurau. In 2021 she graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts with a Master of Fine Arts achieved with Honours. Her art practice focuses on puppetry and fabric art, using digital media such as video and photography to perform her puppet works. The lush fabric scenery and strange human-like creatures create an uncanny sense of playfulness and uneasiness, exploring themes of communication, gesture, and materiality.
@sarahjcowieart
Photography by Sarah Cowie

Food Truck | French Kiss Creperie
5.30–9pm
Gallery Forecourt
French Kiss Creperie started six years ago in Lower Hutt in a kiosk inside Queensgate shopping centre where they sold yummy, sweet and savoury traditional French Crepes and Galettes. After a few years they expanded and added wheels. Their food truck can reach more hungry people and more of New Zealand, and from the 18 September 2025 you can find them at their new store in Northwest Mall (Westgate). They focus on using premium products (New Zealand buckwheat, homemade caramel, artisan cheese) and keeping their customers smiling!
@frenchkisswelly
Image courtesy of French Kiss

Food Truck | Mumma Bears
5.30–9.00pm
Gallery Forecourt
Mumma Bears serve next-level healthy Turkish street food with love. Enjoy grilled lamb and beef kofta (Turkish meatballs) or grilled chicken thighs with homemade Turkish bread or a tortilla wrap. These come with homemade hummus, Mediterranean red onion salad, fresh greens, gherkins and Mumma Bear’s own tomato sauce. Vegan (falafel) and vegetarian (grilled halloumi cheese) options are also available. You can try their delicious mezzes (dips) before purchasing, and don’t leave without a piece of crispy Baklava to satisfy your sweet-treat craving!
@mummabearsnz
Image courtesy of Mumma Bears NZ

Bourgeois’ Bar
6–9pm
Te Ātea | North Atrium
Our central hub for the evening is the Bourgeois Bar. Enjoy refreshing beverages from our partners – Waiheke Distillery, Trinity Hill and Stoke – available to purchase throughout the event. Chill out with pals and enjoy a vibrant line-up of live music.
Photography by David St George

Exhibition Talks | Louise Bourgeois in Private View
6.30–6.45pm | 7.15–7.30pm | 8–8.15pm
Chartwell Gallery
Join our passionate Volunteer Guides for bite-sized pop-up talks that delve into the life, artistic themes and legacy of the legendary Louise Bourgeois. These informal, insightful moments invite you to pause, reflect and discover unexpected connections throughout the exhibition.
Photography by David St George

Web Making
6–9pm
E H McCormick Research Library
Drop into the Gallery’s own Library for a quiet, hands-on activity perfect for a moment of calm during the Open Late. Using wire and beads, create your own delicate spiderweb – part sculpture, part decoration, and all yours to take home. Whether you’re channelling Halloween vibes or just love a bit of sparkle, this is a lovely way to unwind and get creative. All materials provided. No experience needed – just bring your imagination.
Photography by David St George




