Learn more about Hocken's Art and Photography Collections.
Services for researchers
Hocken Art and Photography Collections
The Hocken Art and Photography Collections reading room is open by appointment 10am–3pm Tuesday to Friday.
Please call or make an appointment.
Hākena
Search archives, pictures and photographs on Hākena
See our guide for help with searching:
Digitised photographs and artworks
Search for digital material on Hocken Digital Collections
Explore a selection of over a thousand digitised artworks:
OURHeritage
Conditions of use and price list
Read our conditions of use and prices for our scanning, copying and reproduction services:
- Reproduction Terms and Conditions (PDF)
- Price list (PDF)
Staff can help with finding images and information on artists in the collections. A free reference service is offered for queries relating to New Zealand art, photography and Hocken's collections.
Copies of images can be ordered, subject to preservation and copyright conditions.
Group visits and tours
General tours of Hocken are offered on Thursdays at 11am and can include viewing art "on the racks".
Researchers, curators, school, tertiary and community groups can arrange specialised research visits of pictorial collections:
Email photos.hocken@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 8871
Art
Hocken's Pictures Collection has more than 17,000 artworks relating to New Zealand and the Pacific, dating from 18th century voyagers through to contemporary artists.
This is a magnificent resource for the study of New Zealand art history and provides abundant research material for the history and culture of New Zealand.
Artists with works in the collection include:
Dr Hocken's original collection of pictures represents illustrative material intended for use by geographers, ethnologists and natural scientists.
Significant additions to the collection include artwork amassed by Charles Brasch, Mona Edgar and Rodney Kennedy.
Research Guide for Art History sources at the Hocken (PDF)
Photographs
The Photographs Collection includes well over a million historic images from all over New Zealand, the Pacific, early Australia and Antarctica but with a focus on Otago.
Formats range from daguerreotypes, prints, albums, postcards, panoramas, 35mm slides to lantern slides, glass and film negatives and digital files.
Historic photographers represented include:
- J.W. Allen
- Burton Brothers
- James Bragge
- George Chance
- Herbert Deveril
- John Kinder
- Muir and Moodie
- Joseph Perry
While the policy in recent times has been for collecting documentary photography (as opposed to art photography housed with the paintings), contemporary photographers spanning the divide include:
- Gary Blackman
- Di Ffrench
- Lloyd Godman
- Adrienne Martyn
- Christine Webster
- Nigel Yates
See what's on in the Gallery
The Hocken Gallery hosts a regular programme of exhibitions showcasing collections, artwork by Frances Hodgkins Fellows and travelling exhibits.
Contact
Art and Photography staff
Tel +64 3 479 8871
Email photos.hocken@otago.ac.nz
Further help
Search publications on LibrarySearch|Ketu
Our research guides help you to find resources in the collections.