Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki has appointed Nigel Borell as its new Curator, Maori Art.

Borell (Pirirakau, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Te Whakatohea) replaces Ngahiraka Mason who was in the role for more than 20 years.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki has appointed Nigel Borell as its new Curator, Maori Art.

Borell (Pirirakau, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Te Whakatohea) replaces Ngahiraka Mason who was in the role for more than 20 years.

In this position, Borell will report to Principal Curator, Zara Stanhope. He will help to develop and manage the Gallery’s collection of artworks by Maori and works depicting Maori, researching, displaying and interpreting the collection for the benefit of the Gallery’s stakeholders, especially the public.

The position is also responsible for liaising with the relevant collection stakeholders, including artists, iwi, funders and donors, for purposes relating to collecting, exhibition making, research and the development of philanthropic support and patronage.

Stanhope says she is excited to welcome Nigel Borell as Curator, Maori Art at the Gallery.
‘Nigel has a reputation for curatorial work that is based on his knowledge of both traditional and contemporary Maori practice along with strong community relations. We are looking forward to Nigel extending public engagement with Maori art and actively contributing to discussion and debate for our audiences and communities of interest,’ she says.

Borell has more than 10 years’ experience curating Maori art exhibitions. Previously Borell was Associate Curator Maori at Auckland War Memorial Museum from 2013 and prior to that he held the position of Kaiwhakahaere Toi o Manukau; Maori Arts Manager, Auckland Council-South from 2009 to 2013. Earlier he was the Programme Coordinator Aka Rakai Toi/Diploma in Art at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Tauranga from 2007 to 2009.

Borell currently also lectures for University of Auckland Art History Department on Maori art history.

He gained a Bachelor of Maori Visual Art (Hons), Massey University, Palmerston North in 2000 and a Master of Fine Arts (Hons) at Elam School of Fine Arts in 2002.

Media Release: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki