2026 marks a significant milestone for Parnell Gallery, which celebrates fifty years at the heart of Auckland’s arts community. Since opening its doors in 1976, the gallery has grown from a small specialist print gallery into one of New Zealand’s longest-running and most respected privately owned galleries.
Founded by Sally Souness, the gallery began as The Hang Up Gallery, established shortly after her return to New Zealand from a two-year OE. Armed with a BA majoring in Art History and a clear vision, Sally chose Parnell as the home for her venture, recognising the area’s lively mix of boutiques, restaurants, and creative energy.
Located at 263 Parnell Road, where the gallery remains today, the original space occupied only the downstairs rooms of the building. At the time, the upper level was leased to renowned photographer George Kohlap. As opportunities arose over the years, the gallery gradually expanded upstairs, incorporating offices and a framing business. The building itself evolved alongside the gallery’s programme: staircases were relocated, walls reconfigured, and balconies enclosed, eventually forming the heritage space visitors know today.
In its early years, The Hang Up Gallery specialised in limited edition prints. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sally travelled regularly to the New York Art Fair, sourcing etchings, lithographs, and screen prints from international publishers. This focus reflected her belief that art collecting should be accessible, allowing new collectors to begin building meaningful collections through editions while discovering contemporary work.
By the mid-1990s, both the gallery’s programme and its reputation had expanded significantly. In 1996, it was renamed Parnell Gallery, a change that reflected its growing role within the New Zealand art landscape and an increasing focus on contemporary artists working across a broader range of media.
Over fifty years, the gallery has been shaped by the relationships at its core. Many artists have been represented for decades, developing their practices alongside the gallery and contributing to a continuity that has become one of its defining strengths. For Sally, these relationships have always extended beyond the professional: “The relationships I have with artists are deeply personal,” she reflects. “Over time they become an extended family. We watch each other grow through different stages of life; through developing careers, families, and changing circumstances.”
The gallery has also remained closely connected to family life. Sally’s daughters, Anna and Chrissy, grew up within its walls; from early days spent in bassinets under the counter to after-school jobs and assisting with exhibitions. In 2011, Anna Souness formally joined the gallery and now works alongside her mother as Co-Director. Together, they bring complementary strengths to the gallery’s leadership. Sally’s approach, shaped by decades of experience, is instinctive and grounded in close relationships with artists and collectors. Anna works closely alongside her in these relationships, while also contributing a strategic perspective that supports the gallery’s continued development and expanding international reach.
While the gallery’s programme and audience have grown, it remains firmly rooted in the personal connections that have sustained it for five decades. Many collectors have engaged with the gallery over long periods, following artists’ careers and building collections over time, while generations of staff have contributed their skills and energy to its daily life.
There have also been a few quieter but equally loyal companions along the way. From its earliest days, the gallery has had a dog in residence. The current gallery dog, Frankie the border terrier, is a familiar presence in photographs and often greets visitors at the door. Frankie is the sixth official Parnell Gallery dog. The first, a black labrador named Leda, was known to accompany Sally on daily walks to the bank and was known to carry messages between gallery spaces tucked into her collar.
For Sally, the gallery has been far more than a place of business. Over five decades, it has been the centre of a life spent immersed in art, friendships, and creative collaboration. Many exhibitions have grown out of trips taken with artists throughout Aotearoa, where shared experiences and travel later became the foundation for new bodies of work.
Fifty years after opening its doors, Parnell Gallery continues to evolve while remaining guided by the same principles that shaped its beginnings: a commitment to artists, thoughtful relationships with collectors, and a belief in the lasting importance of art within the community.
