A vibrant new art space has opened in Whakatāne, offering a diverse array of artworks by local artists.

Located at The Framer on The Strand, the gallery celebrated its opening on Saturday night, attracting a lively crowd.

Rich Nielsen, a tattoo artist who took over The Framer early last year, has transformed the front of the framing shop into a spacious, light-filled gallery.

After learning the craft of framing from the previous owner, Jos Van De Laar, who retired after over 40 years in the picture framing business, Nielsen recently decided to create a platform for local artists to showcase their work.

“It is all local artists exhibiting, apart from one. Everyone is from between Awakeri and Ōpōtiki. This town has got a lot of full-time amazing artists who don’t display work locally,” said Nielsen.

“We have work here by Aaron Moeke, who is one of the carvers on the marae, and his work features the iwi from the Mataatua canoe.”

Other artists include Jim Mitchell, formerly of Mambo Clothing in Australia; Fiona Kerr Gedson, renowned for her intricate feather mandalas; Carrie Carey, a printmaker from Wellington who has settled in the Eastern Bay; and Jason McDonald, an art teacher from Kawerau known for his humorous flightless bird artworks.

Singer Hollie Smith has contributed several nudes, and Meg Gaddum’s paintings, recently displayed at the Beehive in Wellington, are now showcased at The Framer.

The gallery also features works by several other artists and includes some photographs and carved furniture.

Artists themselves are pleased to have a venue to exhibit.

“It is brilliant what Rich has done,” said Whakatāne painter Elly Sharp, who has some works in the gallery.

“The space he has created is perfect and I really appreciate that he is showcasing local talent. I feel very grateful to have been invited to put my work in and one has already sold, which is awesome.

“Considering I’ve only been painting for a couple of years, I feel privileged to be selling some work and to have my place in The Framer Gallery.”

Sue Whale, president of Arts Whakatāne, is also thrilled with the new gallery.

“Rich Nielsen has generously opened the doors to local artists to exhibit in his premises on The Strand East. Arts Whakatāne welcomes this initiative.”

Whale said the popularity of recent exhibitions by Arts Whakatāne, including the Arts Collective Exhibition in December and the pop-up gallery at the former Dick Smith premises on the lower Strand, showed there was a need for gallery space.

“It was clear that there is a need for a community space where Eastern Bay artists and craftspeople can exhibit and sell their work.”

All artworks are available for purchase, and the exhibition will be updated every three months or as pieces sell. The gallery is open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm.