Whale Prints Portfolio
Few art projects in New Zealand have brought together such a remarkable group of artists for a single conservation cause. The Whale Prints Portfolio is a rare collection of limited-edition prints created by five of New Zealand's leading contemporary artists in support of the National Whale Centre project. Featuring works by Dick Frizzell, Gregory O'Brien, John Walsh, John Pule and Michel Tuffery, the portfolio brings together art, conservation and New Zealand's deep connection with the ocean.
Paper-Works Gallery is proud to support the project by exhibiting the portfolio and making selected works available to collectors.
In order: Dick Frizzell – One for the Whales (2012), John Pule – None but ourselves (2014), John Walsh – He Whanaunga (2013), Michel Tuffery – Tangaroa Sanctuary, Mana Island (2013), Greg O’Brien – Raoul Island Whale Survey (2013)
Interested in acquiring a print from the portfolio? Browse available works below or contact the gallery for current availability.
Art in support of conservation
New Zealand's coastline has long been shaped by whales. From mātauranga Māori and traditional navigation to modern marine science, whales occupy a unique place in our cultural and environmental identity. The Whale Prints project recognises that artists also have an important role to play in conservation by creating work that inspires curiosity, empathy and public support. Funds raised through the project contributed towards the proposed National Whale Centre, an organisation dedicated to celebrating New Zealand's relationship with whales through education, research and public engagement.
The portfolio brings together limited edition prints by many of New Zealand's leading artists, each responding to the theme of whales and the ocean in their own distinctive way.
About the Portfolio?
Five original limited edition prints
Created between 2012–2014
Produced in collaboration with leading New Zealand print workshops
Originally created in support of the National Whale Centre
Individual prints and boxed portfolios available subject to availability
Dick Frizzell
Dick Frizzell's contribution reflects his unmistakable ability to combine wit, cultural observation and technical precision. Created in collaboration with poet Sam Hunt, the work pairs Frizzell's imagery with Hunt's poem The Harpooner's Song, inviting reflection on New Zealand's complex relationship with whales—from the country's whaling history to a growing appreciation of marine conservation. Rather than offering a simple environmental statement, the print encourages viewers to consider how our understanding of whales has evolved over time.
Gregory O'Brien
Artist, poet and writer Gregory O'Brien has long explored the Pacific Ocean as both a physical place and an imaginative landscape. His contribution to the Whale Prints Portfolio reflects an enduring fascination with islands, migration, navigation and the rich ecology of Moana Oceania. These themes would continue to shape his work in the years that followed, becoming central to later books, collaborative print projects and exhibitions celebrating the Pacific and its interconnected cultures.
John Pule
John Pule's work draws upon the stories, symbolism and spiritual traditions of Niue and the wider Pacific. His richly layered compositions often weave together memory, mythology and the natural environment, making whales a fitting subject within his broader exploration of identity and oceanic connections. His contribution to the portfolio reflects both the physical vastness of the Pacific and the deep cultural relationships that have long existed between its peoples and the sea.
John Walsh
John Walsh (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti) frequently explores Māori histories, whakapapa and the enduring relationship between people and place. His contribution to the Whale Prints Portfolio reflects this strong cultural perspective, acknowledging whales not simply as marine animals but as significant beings within Māori traditions and narratives. Through carefully considered symbolism, Walsh's work invites viewers to reflect on the shared histories that connect people, the ocean and the natural world.
Michel Tuffery
Michel Tuffery is widely recognised for work that explores environmental, cultural and social themes through a Pacific lens. His contribution to the Whale Prints Portfolio reflects his longstanding interest in the interconnectedness of communities and the natural world. Dynamic in both composition and meaning, the print celebrates the vitality of the ocean while reminding us of the responsibility we share in protecting the extraordinary life it sustains.
Interested in collecting a Whale Print?
Some editions from the Whale Prints Portfolio are now sold out, while others occasionally become available through participating galleries.
If you're interested in acquiring one of these important limited editions, please browse our current availability or contact us to enquire about individual prints or complete portfolios.
[Browse Available Whale Prints]
The Whale Prints Portfolio represents a remarkable collaboration between five of New Zealand's leading contemporary artists. Whether you're interested in the history of the project or looking to acquire one of these increasingly scarce editions, we invite you to explore the available works or contact Paper-Works Gallery for further information.
Editor's note (2026): The National Whale Centre project described in this article was not ultimately realised in its original form.
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