The Curated Eye: Inside SPA_CE, the Napier gallery redefining contemporary art in Hawke’s Bay.
Works by artist John Eaden.
Situated in the heart of Napier, SPA_CE is not your average gallery. Under the quietly confident direction of its founder, Megan Poppelwell, this contemporary gallery has become a cornerstone of Hawke’s Bay’s creative scene. Its story begins, fittingly, with a filmmaker’s eye for light and detail. “I first came to Hawke’s Bay in the summer of 2011 while working in the art department of a film being shot here,” Megan explains. “I spent six weeks immersed in the rhythms of the region — the landscape, the light, the food, the wine. It all left a mark.” A year later, she returned for good, settling into an 1881 cottage on Napier’s Bluff Hill, trading a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary creative life for something more grounded. With a background spanning visual art, design and film, opening a gallery was less of a pivot and more of a natural evolution.
Works by Dick Frizzel (left) and Martin Poppelwell
When a local contemporary gallery closed its doors in 2014, Megan saw an opportunity. “That’s when SPA_CE was born. I wanted to keep the conversation around contemporary art alive in the region,” she says. “Ten years on, we’re still doing exactly that.” SPA_CE has carved out its own niche, defined by rigorous solo exhibitions and a stockroomcurated with care and conviction. Representing artists from across Aotearoa and Australia, the gallery reflects its founder’s sensibility: thoughtful, intuitive and grounded in authenticity.
SPA_CE gallery founder Megan Poppelwell.
“I show work that I connect with — art that holds presence and integrity,” Megan explains. “That’s true for the gallery and for what I live with at home.” Though the artists she represents are not all local, they share a certain energy — a commitment to evolving practice and a spirit of genuine connection. “Visiting an artist’s studio and seeing the work in progress, getting that firsthand sense of their process and energy, is one of the real privileges of what I do. Many of the artists have become friends,” she says. “Ours are long-term relationships, built on trust and mutual respect.” In thriving Napier, SPA_CE offers an oasis. “People tell me they feel at ease here,” she says. “It’s important visitors can relax and spend time with the work, to get a good sense of what they are looking at.” Hawke’s Bay, Megan notes, has become a magnet for creatives. “It offers that rare balance of beauty, space and affordability. Artists can build sustainable practices here — without the pressures of the big cities. There’s time to think, time to make.” Outside of her gallery walls, she keeps close ties with her wider community. Regular exhibition openings draw collectors from around the country, while the Aotearoa Art Fair provides a platform to connect on a broader scale. But the philosophy remains the same: build meaningful relationships — with artists, with collectors, with the work itself. “The art world can feel opaque, but it doesn’t need to be,” Megan says. “At SPA_CE, I want people to feel welcome — to have the time and room to really see.”
MEGAN’S ADVICE ON CHOOSING ART
• Start with what you love and trust your intuition — if a piece speaks to you, it will continue to bring you joy.
• Don’t be afraid to take your time. Get to know artists, visit exhibitions and explore different mediums. • Learn the stories behind the works — it gives each piece even more meaning and establishes connections.
• You don’t need an art background to step into a gallery. It is through conversation that understanding and knowledge are revealed — what resonates with you is important.
• Consider scale and placement, but don’t feel limited by it. A bold work in a quiet space can transform a room and likewise a subtle piece in a larger area can have a subtle note or detail.
