The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity

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The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity

exhibition Details

The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity celebrates the monumental gift of significant artworks from the collection of New York philanthropists Julian (1932–2022) and Josie Robertson (1943–2010) to the Gallery. 

The donation comprises 15 works by influential modern European artists, including Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Paul Cezanne, Salvador Dalí, André Derain, Henri Fantin-Latour, Paul Gauguin, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian and Pablo Picasso.

Beginning with the suggestive nude bodies of the late 19th century and ending with a monumental colour-field painting from the 1960s, The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity takes visitors on a journey through the major art movements of the modern era, including Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, and post-war abstraction. 

Featuring 49 paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture, the exhibition also includes visitor favourites from the permanent collection as well as loans and other important recent acquisitions, offering a broad survey of the best of late-19th- and early-to-mid 20th-century international art.

Image credits: Paul Cezanne, La route (Le mur d’enceinte). The Road (The Old Wall), 1875-1876, oil on canvas, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Julian and Josie Robertson through the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, 2023. | Pierre Bonnard, Compotier des Pommes (Bowl of Apples), circa 1930, oil on canvas, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Julian and Josie Robertson through the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, 2023. | Paul Gauguin Cow in Meadow, Rouen, 1884, oil on canvas, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Julian and Josie Robertson through the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, 2023.  

Date
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Curated by
Kenneth Brummel & Dr Sophie Matthiesson
Location
Level 1
Cost
Free

Explore Further

Audio tour

Step into a world of modern art in this 20-minute audio tour of The Robertson Gift: Paths through Modernity. Written and narrated by co-curator Kenneth Brummel, you’ll be guided through 14 stops in the exhibition, encountering 12 highlights from Josie and Julian Robertson’s extraordinary collection of modern masterpieces. From Cezanne to Dalí to Matisse, step into the vibrant colours, dynamic energy and visionary creativity of the trailblazers of modern art. 

This tour costs $7. You can use your own smartphone or borrow a device from the Gallery for no additional cost. Please bring your own headphones.

Purchase your tickets by clicking here or by visiting the Gallery’s front desk.

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.