East Auckland contemporary art gallery Te Tuhi has named Ed Ritchie its 2025 Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency recipient.
The inaugural recipient of the Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency, he’ll spend three months in the Papatūnga Artist Studio at Te Tuhi in Pakuranga, where he’ll experiment, explore and develop new work.
He’ll receive mentoring and curatorial support from Te Tuhi’s team, as well as a $15,000 stipend.
“I’m super excited to be awarded the Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency,” Ritchie says.
“Dedicated and supported studio time is such a rare gift to be given and I can’t wait to spend it in Tāmaki Makaurau, hopefully building some relationships while I’m there.”
Ritchie is based in Dunedin. His installation-based practice examines the invisible infrastructures that operate around us, often responding directly to architectural, social and spatial contexts.
He completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in 2017 at the Dunedin School of Art and was a founder and co-facilitator of ARI Laurel and Favour (2018–2022).
He’s staged recent exhibitions in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington.
Te Tuhi curator Suzy Park says Ritchie’s intuitive, site-specific approach will benefit greatly from being situated in Pakuranga, particularly as he’s unfamiliar with the context of Auckland.
“We believe this opportunity will serve as a meaningful turning point in Ritchie’s artistic trajectory.
“It will enable him to connect with new communities and contexts, and to participate in a broader artistic conversation that could shape the next phase of his work.”
Stephen Fisher, on behalf of the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust, says: “It’s incredibly meaningful to see the Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency come to life.
“Iris believed deeply in supporting emerging artists and creating opportunities for them to grow.
“Her commitment to creating opportunities – whether through awards, scholarships, or her involvement in community arts – has always been about enabling others to thrive.
“We’re delighted to support Ritchie as the inaugural recipient, and we look forward to seeing how this programme continues to nurture artists in the years ahead.”
The gallery says Iris Fisher was an early champion of contemporary art in New Zealand and a pivotal figure in shaping east Auckland’s creative landscape.
As the founding president of the Pakuranga Arts Society in 1969, she helped lay the groundwork for what would become the Pakuranga Cultural and Community Centre, the Iris Fisher Gallery and, ultimately, Te Tuhi.
Since launching the Iris Fisher Art Awards in 1981, followed by the annual Iris Fisher Art Award, the Iris Fisher Scholarship and now the Iris Fisher Artist Studio Residency, Fisher and her family have continually supported emerging artists across New Zealand.
Last year marked a significant new chapter in that legacy. Stepping up from the Iris Fisher Scholarship, the Lou and Iris Fisher Charitable Trust has committed to supporting the residency for the next three years, tripling the support previously offered.
“This transformative investment reflects the values that guided Fisher’s life, being community, creative opportunity and building the conditions for artists to thrive,” the gallery says.
