The bold, bright and beautiful murals and sculptures that take their pride of place in Newmarket’s streets and alleyways by local and acclaimed artists are worth noting down, each with a story that is significant to the area.  From commissioned murals to impressive sculptures and everything in between, we’ve scoured the streets to provide you with the ultimate guide to Newmarket’s array of street art. So get your walking shoes on and make a day out of exploring Newmarket’s streets and laneways for a visual feast for the eyes.

View and download a free map of Newmarket's street art, murals and sculptures here.

Water Feature - Ted Smyth

The large water feature in Lumsden Green was built in the late 80's as a commemoration to the Borough of Newmarket.

Lumsden Green

KnockKnock by Seung Yul Oh

The eight colourful eggs dotted throughout Teed Street were created by South Korean artist, Seung Yul Oh in 2010. The artist created these playful sculptures as a symbol of life and colours that add vibrancy to the precinct. They are most popular amongst the smallest of our Newmarket visitors, often kids can be seen climbing on and sliding down the eggs and having endearing interactions with the artwork.

Teed Street

Ándale Ándale by Reuben Paterson

This work was created and installed in 2013, the artist created this piece using 15 large sheets of aluminium attached to a large frame that was then attached to the wall. The work’s name translates into the Latin America expression of ‘Hurry Up’, the idea of expressing movement talks to the positioning of the artwork. Being placed on the outside walls of the Newmarket train station, this work references motions of people entering and exiting the station.

Newmarket Train Station

The World Grasped by Terry Stringer

Relocated to the top end of Broadway, The World Grasped is a bronze sculpture by well-known sculptor Terry Stringer, acquired for the precinct by the Newmarket Arts Trust. A work that is able to be understood from different angles, the idea of this work is to engage passers-by with the sculpture’s changing appearance. The artist explains that this work has a revealing of three separate images. From one direction, the sculpture is seen as the head of a boy resting on his hand, the second direction shows the work as a hand plucking an apple and from the third the apple is the world supported on the shoulders of Atlas.

Broadway

Sliver by Virginia King

Virginia King is an artist whose name is synonymous with large-scale sculptures in the landscape. Sliver, on the corner of Broadway and Khyber Pass Road is a stainless-steel sculpture perforated with a series of radiating elliptical discs. The circular wheel form of this work has become a symbol of the constant traffic that flows through this busy corner of the precinct. The rotation and movement of this sculpture on its axis also references the changing of seasons and day to night.

Corner of Broadway & Khyber Pass

Smirnoff by Marte Szirmay

Artist Marte Szirmay’s sculpture on Lumsden Green is unique in the way it has been created out of aluminium, a material that is not typically associated with sculpture making in the Fine Arts during this era. This work consists of eight interlacing pieces that reference movement and light. In 1969, Smirnoff this was the first large abstract work to be commissioned in Auckland. Szirmay won a sculpture competition for this work to celebrate the centennial of the suburb of Newmarket.

Lumsden Green

Flox – Several works around the precinct

Auckland-based artist, Flox has created several murals around the Newmarket precinct. One being The Painted Peacock in Clayton Street. This mural was created as part of an ongoing, worldwide collaborative project created by Hayley King (Flox), jewellery designer Cathy Pope, artist Emma Frost and Photographer Sacha Stejko. Flox has also been commissioned by businesses in Newmarket to create unique murals on their buildings, the Gordon Harris mural can be seen on the corner of Gillies Ave and Eden Street. Blunt Umbrellas also commissioned aFlox mural on York Street as part of a brand collaboration with the artist, which was then transformed into an umbrella print.

Jonny4Higher – Several works around the precinct

Street artist Jonny4Higher is another artist whose works can be found dotted around the precinct. On Teed street, the moody Winter Forest Scene can be found on the roller door beside Isabel Harris. Not too far along the street, the artist has created a mural that sits along the wall of Teed Street Larder. An optical illusion of sorts is created by the painting of trees sitting alongside the real trees planted in the courtyard and adding colour to the wall. As well as the Teed Street Murals, Jonny’s larger works can also be found at the back of the Gordon Harris carpark on Gillies Avenue. Alongside artist Jacob Chrisohoou, the work is a tribute to 20th century New Zealand painter, Rita Angus, that features two of her famous works, Rutu and Cass. Further down Broadway outside the Olympic Pools, Jonny4Higher created a Newmarket Family Tree to outline the heritage businesses in the area. The artist used a native Whau Bush, namesake to Mt Eden (Maungawhau) and used the trunk to represent Broadway and the branches as surrounding streets. Each business is situated approximate to their location around the precinct.

New Marks - Various Artists

New Marks was a community art project that invited various street artists from Auckland and throughout the country to come and transform Nuffield Lane into an eclectic display of talent. Over a weekend, various street artists such as BMD, Berst, Erika Pearce and Charles and Janine Williams helped Jonny4Higher create these eye catching murals.

Nuffield Lane

Melinda Butt

Melinda Butt is an Auckland-based artist whose mission is to transform neglected yet functional spaces into bright experiences for the community. Commissioned by the Newmarket Business Association, Melinda was tasked with beautifying and activating the alleyway between the Teed Street Larder courtyard and Bourke Street. A contemporary exploration of colour and form can be seen as you walk through the connecting streets.

Bourke Street Alley

Heliograph - Ray Haydon

Heliograph is a way-finding symbol that can be found on Teed Street as a modern day symbol of Te Ti Tutahi, the Māori name for Newmarket which translates to tall cabbage tree standing alone. Drawing from nature, the top form moves slowly with changes in the wind. The fluidity of the ribbon articulates the constant evolution and change the precinct has seen – the ebb and flow of people, the changing economy and constant movement.

Teed Street