Ōtautahi based artist Polly Gilroy graduated with a BFA (first class honours) from Toi Rauwharangi, Massey University College of Creative Arts, Wellington in 2017. Since, Gilroy has consistently exhibited across Aotearoa, New Zealand and Australia. Most notably, her recent solo exhibitions: To a Shadows Edge, at McLeavey, Wellington, November 2025
Between the Lines, at Hutch, Dunedin, August 2025 & In between Expanses, PG gallery192, Christchurch, July 2024
Polly is represented by OTOMYS (Melbourne, Aus) & PG Gallery192 (Christchurch, NZ).
She was a finalist in the Zonta Female Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery in 2020, 2021 & 2024
Polly’s deceptively minimal constructions encourage her audience to question the boundaries of traditional painting and the expected confines. She embraces the point of transition between sculpture and painting, binding the two through multi-faceted structures. She responds to the complexities of colour through nuanced hues which are enhanced by the translucence of her silks. No paint can be seen on the surface and by bringing the support frame into the formal composition she is encouraging viewers to look through and beyond.
EDUCATION
2017 - Bachelor of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, Toi Rauwharangi, Massey University, Wellington
UPCOMING
2026, PG gallery192
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025 Solo Exhibition, To a Shadow’s Edge, McLeavey, Wellington
2025 A Simple Truth, Group Show, Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson
2025 Solo Exhibition, between the lines, Hutch, Dunedin
2025 Materiality, with Emma Fitts and Leah Creaven, Twenty Six Gallery, Wellington
2024 Solo exhibition, In between expanses, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2024 Commissioned site specific series for commercial space, facilitated by OTOMYS
2023 The Land of Wonder, Group show, OTOMYS, Melbourne, Australia
2023 A colour has many faces, Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch (curated)
2022 Solo exhibition, Traces, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2022 Summer Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2022 Playground in a lake, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2022 Tomorrows Harvest, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2021 Christmas Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2021 Cinder and Smoke, Group show, Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2020 Solo Exhibition, In absence of, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2019 Christmas Group show, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2019 Solo Exhibition, Within and Without, PG gallery192, Christchurch
2018 new works, PG gallery192 Pop up, Christchurch CBD
2017 Exposure, Graduate Exhibition, Massey University, Wellington
2017 Loose Leaf, Group show, Potocki Paterson Gallery, Wellington
2016 Boundless Perceptions, Group show Massey University, Wellington
AWARDS
Finalist - ZAWAA’24, Zonta Women Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery
Finalist - ZAWAA’21, Zonta Women Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery
Finalist - ZAFAA’20, Zonta Women Art Awards, Ashburton Art Gallery
NEWS
McLeavey - In conversation with Polly Gilroy as told to Anna Hewitt
ART SEEN, Otago Daily Times - James Dignan reviews Polly Gilroy’s exhibition ‘Between The Lines’
Light and Legacy - OTOMYS
OTOMYS Recommends - Polly Gilroy's Inspiration from Europe to Ōtautahi
Introducing Polly Gilroy - Representation announcement & interview with OTOMYS
The Art Paper interview - Casting Shadows in Space
10 Exhibitions to see June 2023 - Curated exhibition A Colour Has Many Faces
10 Exhibitions to see March 2022 - Traces, solo exhibition
OTHER
2026 Craigs Aspiring Art Prize Judge