Fisher Galleries was established in 1870 and is Australasia's longest running gallery still in the same ownership. Six generations of the Fisher family have been involved in the business since its inception.

Fisher Galleries is now enetering a new stage in its long history as one of New Zealand's foremost galleries. The gallery will be closed in the coming months and will from then on operate on an appointment only, art consultancy basis. The website however will remain updated and select artists will be exhibited online along with significant secondary market artworks that are for resale from various vendors.

Until Fisher Galleries have made the full transition from a more physical presence to an online and consultancy position the website may not be as updated as it should be however please continue to check back as the website will be updated reguarly as soon as the gallery has closed.

The Current Market

2009 has been a strong year for the New Zealand Art Market especially considering the recession that the country has been in (and now starting to come out of). There has been a resurgence in people looking to add art to their investment portflios and also collectors just looking add to their collections. Art can be enjoyed on the wall and is not going to become valueless like some peoples fortunes have during the financial crisis. The majority of collectors who are currently active in the market or others who are looking to enter generally know what they want and are often very specific as to the series, period or style that they are looking for in a particular artists work. In the private market a number of record prices have been achieved this year for some of the countries most sought after contemporary artists. The private market offers vendors, discretion, sometimes a much quicker turn around and lower costs. At auction and in these times an artwork is at risk of being deemed ‘yesterdays goods’ if it doesn’t sell and for some vendors it is all a bit too ‘public’. Collectors who are buying in this market mostly want artworks at a recession price but for quality there is always demand and therefore some exceptions.

For a confidential appraisal of any artworks by ‘well known’ New Zealand or International artists please contact Simon Fisher on 021 324299 (email: simon@simonfisher.co.nz). Please note that Simon Fisher no longer works for Fisher Galleries however he remains a part of the team and continues to contract to the gallery for certain projects. Simon now has his own specialist fine art consultancy business which is based in Auckland. He has significant experience in this field and works with some of the countries foremost collectors.

Artists that Fisher Galleries currently have collectors looking to purchase include: Charles Frederick Goldie, Don Binney (bird paintings), Peter McIntyre (high country mustering scenes and Maori portraiture), Shane Cotton, Michael Smither, Ralph Hotere, Frances Hodgkins, Peter Robinson, Garth Tapper, Robin White, Bill Hammond, Colin McCahon, Grahame Sydney, Phillip Clairmont, Tony Fomison, Allen Maddox and any other artists of significance will always be of interest.

If you are looking to add to your collection or are considering starting a collection please feel free to contact Simon Fisher. Most artworks sold in the private market are not seen publicly or on websites so if you are after something specific you are best to let us know so that you don’t miss out.

Other services still available from Fisher Galleries:

· Secondary art market sales – by consignment or purchase outright

· Insurance valuations and collection cataloguing

· Collection management and advisory for private and corporate clients

· Art logistics crating and freight worldwide

The Fisher Galleries Biography:

Henry Fisher was the founder of H. Fisher & Son Ltd now trading as Fisher Galleries. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed for six years with "Maggs" of Bath as Carver & Gilder.

In 1852 he joined a leading London firm of Gilders and was in charge of 38 Gilders, eight Joiners and six Carvers. He was personally entrusted with Gilding work at Windsor Castle where he would lead a team of tradesmen for six weeks at a time.

In 1865, he bought his own Picture Framing and Gilding business, but five years later, was enticed to leave, with his family, for New Zealand by a relative already in Christchurch. Henry sailed to New Zealand on the Merope and arrived in Lyttleton in 1870.

Fisher Galleries first gallery was established in 1870 in High Street, Christchurch. During the earlier years, particularly before an art market was established in New Zealand Fisher Galleries imported and sold paintings by some of worlds most famous and sought after artists including Alfred Munnings, Sir J. F. Herring and Stanhope Forbes. They also specialised in expert gilding, framing and restoration/conservation services. Since the gallery’s inception they have represented and sold artworks by New Zealand’s most respected and renowned artists.

Fisher Galleries head office and main gallery is now located at 134 Victoria St, Christchurch. The gallery was purpose built and designed by architects Shepherd & Rout and was nominated for a number of architectural awards. The gallery was opened in December 2006 with a major survey exhibition of New Zealand Fine Art including significant artworks by Charles Goldie, Colin McCahon, Frances Hodgkins, Sydney Thompson, Ralph Hotere, Bill Hammond, Petrus Van der Velden, Philip Clairmont, Tim Wilson and many more of New Zealand’s most sought after Historical, Modern and Contemporary artists.

In December 2007 Fisher Galleries sold their Wellington Gallery to long time manager Ron Epskamp and closed the Auckland Gallery. This meant that they could focus their energy in Christchurch on a dedicated exhibition programme of emerging and established contemporary, modern and historical artists while also being able to provide specialist fine art consultancy services, particularly in the secondary (re-sale) end of the art market.

Simon Fisher (6th Generation) continues to operate an appointment only consultancy service from Auckland, specialising in prodominently the secondary market for New Zealand and International fine art.

Please do not hesitate to contact the gallery for any further information.