Becroft Gallery

Tanja Simons – Simply Me

Becroft Gallery

Saturday 28th February – Thursday 12th March

Opening Celebration: Sunday 1st March, 4pm – 6pm

‘Simply Me’ by Tanja Simons 

Simply Me celebrates the unadorned female form and is a reclamation of self.  

This exhibition is a personal exploration of womanhood, body, and truth through stitched and painted figurative works. The artist predominantly uses her own aging body as both subject and material. 

 ‘Throughout my life, I’ve navigated a duality of self: private and public, shy yet bold. That duality threads through my art. Painting my unclothed body is not an act of exposure but one of authorship — I am both artist and subject, taking ownership of how I am seen.’  

This act of self-representation challenges and defies the unwanted gaze and the societal narratives that have long shaped how women’s bodies are perceived 

Sewing and painting allow the artist to reconstruct identity – to cut, stitch and paint her own form on her terms, shifting the female body from object to subject. The stitched body, the painted body, the real body; each becomes a statement of empowerment and authenticity. Using fabric and thread the artist challenges the viewers’ expectations of subject matter and creates wonder at the possibilities of materials.  

Emerging from a lifetime of negotiating public and private selves the artist’s practice reclaims authorship over how she is seen. In a world distorted by social media, AI, and post-truths she turns inward to find honesty, strength and beauty in the ‘imperfect.’

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Wairau Zero Waste Hub Art Awards 2026 – It’s Back! 

In partnership with Wairau Zero Waste Hub and Localised, Lake House Arts is proud to celebrate creativity that transforms trash into treasure. These awards shine a light on sustainability in art, encouraging artists to reimagine discarded materials and give them new life through imaginative, thought-provoking work.

Open to current Lake House Arts members, the awards showcase artworks made from everyday items that might otherwise go to waste. The winning artist will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Standard commission applies on all sales. Enter now and show how discarded materials can become extraordinary creations! 

Artwork delivery: Tuesday 24th March (9am – 3pm) – 12pm Friday 27^th March (We are upstairs office)

Exhibition dates: Saturday 28th March – Thursday 9th April 

Celebration and Award Ceremony: Sunday 29th March, 4pm – 6pm

Submission fees: $30 per artwork entry or two for $50, including gst

Open to current Lake House members

Click here to download the submission form

About Wairau Zero Waste Hub Wairau Zero Waste Hub is a community-focused reuse and recycling hub in Wairau Valley on Auckland’s North Shore, operated by Localised. It helps divert useful materials from landfill through reusable goods, repair and upcycling initiatives, collection services, and community access to recovered items — creating practical, local pathways toward a lower-waste future.

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Becroft Gallery

Saturday 14th March – Thursday 26th March 

Opening Celebration: Sunday 15th March, 4 – 6pm

Five Auckland based artists, Louise Clement, Tracye Eriksen, Leanne Gibbons, Ellen von Collas
and Tracey McKeown, explore their literal and metaphorical journeys through creative works.

Bonus Event: Join us on Sunday 22nd March to collage and trade your own Artist
Trading Card(s)as part of EcoFest 2026

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