Supporting disabled New Zealand visual artists
This residency marks a significant step in Te Tuhi’s commitment to accessible, equitable opportunities for artists. In 2026, three New Zealand artists will travel to Wakefield (UK) to develop their practice and learn new skills that will raise their profile in Aotearoa and internationally.
This marks a major milestone for Aotearoa as the first international residency for disabled New Zealand artists – and the first time New Zealand artists have taken up a residency at The Art House.
About The Art House
The Art House (TAH) is a visual arts centre in the heart of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, UK. It was established in 1994, founded by disabled artists, and has become a sector leader in their approach to diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in the visual arts. They firmly believe in the power of art and creativity, and its ability to transform people’s lives and the places they live in.
The Art House is now home to 3 galleries, 45 artist studios, 3 maker spaces (print studio, ceramic studio, photography darkroom), artist accommodation, shop, and café, and their audience numbers are growing year-on-year.
→ Learn more about TAH here.
The 2026 Residency Artists
In 2026, three artists from Aotearoa will pilot this new residency partnership. Each artist received Creative New Zealand funding to undertake the residency, and The Art House has generously agreed to host all three.
The participating artists are: Stace Robertson, Pelenakeke Brown, and Milly Hampton.
Stace Robertson
Stace Robertson (he/they) is a disabled artist working in ceramics, painting and illustration. Stace has a Bachelor of Media Arts (hons). They are a proud, disabled person and explore ideas relating to identity, representation and community. A Pākehā person of Scottish, Irish, English and French ancestry, Stace lives in Pae Tū Mōkai Featherston on the whenua of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne. His ceramic work is informed by and reflects the tension of creating functional ware with a body that is not always very functional and he enjoys the tensions and imperfections that result from this interplay.
Pelenakeke Brown
Pelenakeke Brown (Gataivai, Siutu-Salailua) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice explores the intersections between disability theory and Sāmoan concepts. Her practice spans visual art, text, and performance. She was most recently recognized with a Wynn Newhouse Award (2024).
Milly Hampton
Milly Hampton is a Te Whanganui-a-Tara based creative. They are Pākēhā tangata Tiriti with Scottish, English and Irish ancestry. Shaped by their involvement in the local zine scene, creative workshop facilitation and community arts, their practice draws on lineages of D.I.Y, activist and craft-based principals. Working across illustration, printmaking and textiles, they playfully explore themes of queerness, gender, disability, and folklore.