Meet our Sculptures

The contemporary sculpture, UPANE, has been crafted by New Zealand artist Steuart Welch and is constructed in COR-TEN® steel. 

Installed in May 2015, this bold and interactive sculpture is situated on the Taupo lakefront and provides the perfect vantage point for photos!

ARTIST: STEUART WELCH

Made possible by the generosity of Alterno Foundation and Taupo District Council.

These three brightly coloured Tiki by Albert McCarthy are a striking addition to the town, inspired by celestial and spiritual themes and carrying a message of peace. Each colour has meaning: blue for Lake Taupō, red for Papatuanuku (the earth), and yellow for Mahanahana (warmth). Together, they form a rainbow reaching toward the heavens.

ARTIST: ALBERT MCCARTHY

A huge thank you to our sponsors: McDonalds, Westerman Property Solutions, Cafe Baku and Towncentre Taupo.

SWELL takes its name from long, gentle wind-driven waves and reflects this in its stainless steel and glass curves. One convex and one concave curve frame hand-cut glass blocks that catch light and movement, evoking the fluidity of water. The title also playfully suggests “first rate” or “stylish,” making the sculpture enjoyable both for its beauty and its environmental inspiration.

ARTIST: Colleen Ryan-Priest

Glass/stainless steel/5000 x 1200 x 150mm

Commissioned in 2011 by the Taupo Sculpture Trust and the Taupo District Council, with funding from the Taupo District Council.

Artist Gregor Kregar says the large rock in his sculpture relates to the giant boulders ejected by the volcanic force of Taupō’s historic eruptions. The mirror-polished stainless steel Sauropod dinosaur is based on an inflatable toy and represents the town’s playful ‘holiday destination’ aspect.

ARTIST: Gregor Kregar

Dog Head Hill draws on topographic maps and natural contours, playfully exploring the tension between positive and negative space, hard stone and soft flowing lines, perfection and imperfection.

Carved from Shanxi black granite, it reflects a fractured boulder shaped by rivers and rocky outcrops, its surface marked by gentle ripples. From some angles it feels solid and weighty; from others, almost weightless.

Like much of Louise’s work, Dog Head Hill carries an elegant presence that captures the quiet power of nature—ever-changing, yet familiar.

Black granite/stainless steel/1200 x 930 x 930mm

ARTIST: LOUISE PURVIS

Generously funded by Westerman Property Solutions, and Taupo District Council.

The first sculpture commissioned by the Taupō Sculpture Trust, this work represents the two sides of the legendary Cloak. One panel uses warm earth tones to reflect the region’s volcanic landscape, while the other features cool blues and greens for the lake, sky, and river. Its 4,000 coloured glass feathers were crafted by Taupō artist Lynden Over and his team at Lava Glass, each created by gathering molten glass.

Glass/volcanic rhyolite rock/2750 x 1400 x 200mm

A joint commission by the Taupo Sculpture Trust and the Taupo District Council. With funding from Taupo District Council, Taupo Moana Rotary Club, Creative Taupo

Shaney Warena designed ‘Tuwiri’ when he was just 15 years old, his design went on to make him the Turangi winner of the Taupo Sculpture Trust Schools’ competition for 2013.

The design of the sculpture, a traditional maori drill with a taniwha design at the base, is in honour of the Turangi people who helped build the dam. The solid wood work was carved by Mark Te Kahu, and stands on a plinth made of stones from the Tongariro River. It was unveiled and blessed in the Turangi Town Centre at dawn on 11th June 2015.

Wood/River stone

Commissioned by Taupo Sculpture Trust, and the Taupo District Council. Supported by Tuaropaki Trust, Wairakei Terraces. Sponsored by Graeme Watson, Lake Taupo Charitable Trust.

In cast aluminium and stainless steel, Ben Foster’s MOMENTUM and TWIST II are dynamic, elegant and tactile. Both pieces shimmer in the sunlight and are sensual to touch. The curves along with the kinetic movement ensure that they make an impression.

TWIST II is a glistening form, welded, polished and sealed that creates a confident and balanced form. Sitting on a plinth, this work can be rotated.

ARTIST: BEN FOSTER

A joint commission by Taupo Sculpture Trust, and the Taupo District Council. Funded by Gary Traveller, Taupo District Council.  

In tune with the Taupo ‘o’, this interactive work by Ben Foster reflects the sun’s rays as it rotates. Located in the aptly-named Suncourt Plaza, MOMENTUM was created in 2011 and is made from cast aluminium and stainless steel. 

ARTIST: BEN FOSTER

A joint commission by Taupo Sculpture Trust, and the Taupo District Council. Funded by Gary Traveller, Taupo District Council.

BUTTERFLY, originally entered in the 2014 Secondary Schools Sculpture Competition, is a wind-responsive piece inspired by the Monarch butterfly. Suspended from a flexible cantilevered support, it gently moves with the breeze. Positioned at the entrance to the South Domain gardens, it celebrates our natural environment and highlights the decline of Monarch populations. Designed by a Taupō student, it stands as a vibrant reminder of youth creativity in our community.

ARTIST: Taupo Secondary School Student

Aluminium/Structural Steel/3000 x 1700mm

A 2014 joint commission by Taupo Sculpture Trust, and the Taupo District Council. Funded by Taupo Sculpture Trust, A. Pointon, P. Izard and the Taupo District Council.

Supported by Lakeland Drilling, Allied Concrete.

DEFINING HORIZONS has drawn attention on the Taupō lakefront since its installation. Crafted from stainless, COR-TEN®, and mild steel, it symbolises New Zealand’s many journeys of discovery. Artist Graham Bennett invites personal interpretation, though his inspiration includes Polynesian migration, Cook’s voyages, and ancestral pathways. Its directional upper elements reference the globe’s longitudinal lines, while the rib-like forms evoke a nautical feel.

ARTIST: Graham Bennett

Donated by the late Graeme Watson, ex-deputy chair of the Taupo Sculpture Trust and jointly commissioned by the Taupo Sculpture Trust and Taupo District Council.

Hot Goss is a playful and interactive sculpture located on Heuheu Street in Taupo. Creating a buzz with its bright colours and illusionary design, this engaging piece adds to the vibrancy and culture in the Taupo CBD.

Made from high-quality stainless steel and powder coated in bright colours, Hot Goss is one of our newest installations and was only made possible by the generosity of local business Strettons Chartered Accountants, and Taupo District Council.

ARTIST: Anah Dunsheath

This contemporary sculpture features a tall steel pole, a precision-engineered head, and four red tablets balanced to stand still in calm conditions, reaching 7 metres high. When the wind picks up, the tablets twist and rotate independently in endless variations. Created by renowned kinetic artist Phil Price, FLIP is built to withstand extreme outdoor conditions and now joins his other celebrated works across New Zealand and Australia.

ARTIST: Phil Price

A joint commission in 2010 by the Taupo Sculpture Trust, and Taupo District Council. With funding from Mike Todd, Jenny Todd and Taupo District Council.