A remarkable collection of digitally remastered and life size paintings from one of the world’s greatest painters, Rembrandt van Rijn. Fifty-seven paintings were reproduced as they may have looked upon leaving the master’s studio 400 years ago. Exhibited in collaboration with the Rembrandt Research Project Foundation.

Victorian-style mourning rosettes made from horse hair by artist Cat Auburn commemorate the horses that served their country in WWI, and could not return to New Zealand with troops. Each horse and rider who donated hair was recognised in the work. The exhibition is toured by Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui and was the winner of Best Exhibition Regional Art at the Service IQ 2016 New Zealand Museum Awards.

Folios from Manawatū high school students who attained Excellence marks in NCEA Level three in 2016. Te Manawa and the Manawatū Art Teachers Association were proud to present the work of these young artists and designers.

An interdisciplinary installation that included a new invention, the ‘Smoke Bubble Machine’, by visual artist Rebecca Swan, in collaboration with composer Charlie Ha, engineer Peter Swan, light artist Peter Stoneham and scientist David Shillington, with the support of the S+ART Trust. The works contemplate how we relate to the disappearance of our physical bodies, which gives rise to the question, ‘what are we without them?’

The Topp Twins and the characters they have developed over the years epitomise the vision we hold of ourselves as down-to-earth, hard-working and resourceful New Zealanders. This exhibition looked at the Topp Twins from their childhood to the present day; their lives as performers, as political activists, as roving yodelling musicians and advocates for truth, LGBT rights and social justice. He wahine toa ēnei tokorua he wahine pumau i te aroha hoki.

A photographic exhibition by Rachel Hoskins that captured the normalcy of Butch culture in current society and studied the human reaction to this.

An exhibition of works by graduates and tutors of the Bachelor of Māori Arts degree in weaving at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, in Palmerston North. Combining the customary Māori forms rāranga (weaving), tukutuku (woven panels) and whatu (main technique used to weave cloaks) to reveal creativity, quality and innovation.

Celebrating 40 years since the Manawatū Art Gallery opened on 3 July 1977, Golden Dreams provided a glimpse into landscape art collected by Te Manawa Museums Trust and Te Manawa Art Society, and offered the public an opportunity to reveal its dreams for the visual arts in the Manawatū.

“Forever renegotiating his position, direction and even the very fact of his existence, Euan Macleod is himself the central figure in the vast majority of his paintings—marching, striding, studying the ground in front of him or the canvas that rises before him like a sail.” - Gregory O’Brien, exhibition curator

SuperNova follows Nova by showcasing new stories and people behind selected art and objects acquired by Te Manawa between 2011 and 2016; this time the themes explored are ‘Te Awa/the river’, ‘Palmy at Play’ and ‘Handmade in the Manawatū’.

Brick Flicks brought together photography and hands-on creativity using LEGO, the world's most popular toy. Photographer Warren Elsmore recreated iconic movie scenes using LEGO bricks and minifigs; to this Te Manawa added creation stations where visitors built models to their heart's content (including a DUPLO station for younger children)*. Those models could then be taken to the stop-motion stations to star in a movie of their very own. Once it was time to go home, visitors could make their mark on the signature wall—a name, an icon, anything!

“James Robinson shows us a world that is tangled up with stuff that is both human and non-human, organic and inorganic. His encrusted, collaged doors open into a place where thoughts collide with rubbish, and the ghosts of childhood are challenged by magic aliens and chants of anger, sadness or hope. The paintings are all about resilience.” - Bridie Lonie, Emeritus Member Otago Polytechnic, Te Kura Matatini ki Otago

Summer Haze features 24 works from the collection that evoke summer heat, summer fun and summer adventures. Alongside these are some larger works whose themes are all drawn together by a single piece.