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National Top Art exhibition inspires future creatives

31 July 2026
  • Students look at the art on display in the art exhibition.

In brief:

  • Our organisation is hosting the 2026 Top Art NZQA Exhibition at our Mt Albert Campus until 5 August.
  • We have strong ties with this long running event with past involvement of our kaimahi ‘staff’ and alumni.
  • This year’s exhibition features 96 outstanding student works in design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
  • Established in 1973, the annual touring exhibition is a springboard for many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young visual arts talent.
  • Top Art is an opportunity to showcase our School of Creative Industries facilities and connect with our regional secondary school partners.

We are currently hosting the Top Art NZQA Exhibition at the Toi o Wairaka Gallery on our Mt Albert Campus until 5 August 2026.

Top Art is an annual touring exhibition of some of the visual arts portfolios that gained Excellence at NCEA Level 3.

It has been running since 1973 and is well established as a springboard for many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top young visual arts talent.

This year’s exhibition features 96 outstanding student works across five streams: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

We are hosting several high schools from across Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland this week with sixty ākonga from Kelston Girls visiting the exhibition on Thursday and over 115 students expected from Avondale College on Friday.

Students look at the art on display in the art exhibition.

Kelston Girls High School students view the artwork at the Top Art NZQA Exhibition currently on display at Toi o Wairaka Gallery at our Mt Albert Campus.

Kaimahi from the School of Creative Industries are guiding our visitors on a viewing of the top art artwork. They will also be introduced to our creative industries offerings in The Art Haus and finish with a building tour of Te Pūtahi (B108).

“We’re excited to be hosting Top Art here again this year,” says Academic Programme Manager, Design & Contemporary Art Peeti Lamwilai.

“This is a great opportunity to open up our creative spaces and welcome our future creatives onto campus to experience some of the best NCEA art and design works from across the motu. Hopefully it inspires our rangatahi to imagine what’s possible for their own creative journey.”

Hosting the exhibition provided an opportunity to showcase the School of Creative Industries facilities and connect with our regional secondary school partners and teachers, while celebrating creativity with the wider community.

“Our Design and Contemporary Art programme has a long-standing relationship with Top Art, dating back to when the exhibition was hosted at our old home in Building 1 at the northern end,” Peeti says.

“DCA Discipline Lead Senior Lecturer Richard Fahey, together with our Toi o Wairaka Gallery Committee, saw an opportunity to bring Top Art back to our organisation, recognising our gallery in Building 108 as the next home for hosting Top Art.”

Students sit in a lecture theatre listening to a lecture.

Academic Programme Manager Peeti Lamwilai and Discipline Lead for Design Jonty Valentine welcome out visitors from Kelston Girls High School.

Senior Lecturer Emma Smith is also an assessor for Top Art.

The exhibition is open to the public for viewing from 9:30am-7pm until 5 August (not including weekends).

To find out more about the works being exhibited go to the NZQA website here

Students look at the art on display in the art exhibition.