Phantom Billstickers turns streets into open art gallery

Kiwi street poster company Phantom Billstickers is once again lighting up the streets with art, partnering with Wairau Māori Art Gallery to showcase the incredible work of two renowned Māori artists, June Northcroft Grant and Gabrielle Belz.

This summer, Aotearoa’s streets will become an open gallery, celebrating Māori creativity and identity. The campaign amplifies stories deeply rooted in culture and history, weaving them into the everyday lives of Kiwis.

“We’re thrilled to bring transformative magic to our network this summer,” says Robin McDonnell, CEO of Phantom Billstickers.

“Phantom Billstickers is partnering with Wairau Māori Art Gallery to unleash incredible Māori art across Aotearoa’s streets and spaces. This isn’t just about showcasing art, it’s about amplifying Māori creativity and weaving these powerful mahi into the fabric of our everyday kōrero. We believe Māori art isn’t a niche or a category, but a vibrant, essential expression of our unique voice — brilliant, unbound, and fundamental to who we are.”

The artists and their work

June Northcroft Grant (Ngāti Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is a trailblazer in Māori art. Grant draws on her whakapapa to create works rich in symbolism and history. Her piece, Ko Wai Matou (2014), pays homage to wāhine tūpuna from Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, including Makereti Papakura — a renowned guide and Oxford scholar. Grant’s work celebrates the strength and legacy of Māori women and carries forward their enduring stories.

Gabrielle Belz (Ngāpuhi, Te Atiawa) is a celebrated painter and printmaker, Belz uses her art to connect to the soul of Aotearoa. Her Mana Wahine 4 – He Wahine Matarau (2024) series combines hand-pulled relief prints with metallic highlights, honoring the wisdom and leadership of wāhine Māori. Each piece in the series weaves text and imagery into a tribute to mana wahine, reflecting resilience and strength.

Bringing art to the streets

This collaboration with Wairau Māori Art Gallery allows Phantom Billstickers to take these important works beyond gallery walls, sharing them with a public audience over the summer.

“This campaign brings Māori art to the forefront,” says McDonnell. “It’s an opportunity for everyone to engage with these powerful stories and celebrate the creative talent that defines Aotearoa.”

The featured works are part of a larger mission by Phantom Billstickers to support cultural creatives in Aotearoa and provide platforms for artists to shine.

Explore the Wairau Māori Art Gallery’s collection on the gallery’s website.

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