Dates: 11 – 26 October 2025
Venue: Alberton, 100 Mt Albert Road, Auckland
Through Familiar Eyes was a special exhibition of paintings by Bruce Paine, held at the historic Alberton house during October 2025. The works on display explored a range of subjects – from familiar local scenes and everyday objects to more whimsical and quirky ideas – offering visitors a glimpse into Bruce’s artistic perspective.
Each year, Bruce likes to challenge himself with a project that’s a little different. For many years, his focus has been on music and classical guitar concerts, but in 2025 the challenge took a new form: a public exhibition of his artwork. It was both exciting and slightly daunting to step outside his usual comfort zone, and the experience was warmly received by visitors.
To mark the final day of the exhibition, Bruce presented a short classical guitar concert in the Alberton ballroom on Sunday 26 October. The afternoon was glorious, and the audience’s attentiveness and appreciation created a memorable atmosphere. Encouraged by their response, Bruce performed two encores to close the event on a joyful note.
Several paintings found new homes on the day, including all of the miniature works and the second of two striking paintings of NZ native ruru (morepork) — making it a successful event in every respect.
Alberton is a beautiful 19th-century historic home with lush gardens, managed by Heritage New Zealand. Visitors were able to explore both the art exhibition and the house itself.
A selection of photographs from the day of the closing concert can be viewed in the image slider above. Included are two photos from the exhibition launch featuring VIP guests.
