ProperGander*TM: August 2025

Tao Wells Recent Works 2019>

Vote Box - Public Interactive Sculptural Installation , Dunedin School of Art, Entrance Block P. Riego St. Te Pūkenga, Ōtepoti Dunedin, New Zealand. August - September 2023.

Media link.

Art Awards. Costume Jewellery Art Medals, showing now at VOLTA, Jewellery /Design. Level 1 130 Stuart St, Ōtepoti. Nov 2022.
Media link.

Social Sculpture: "From degrowth to regrowth". Day before winter. Collaboration with Rosemary Penwarden. Waitati. June 2022
Media link.

Performance: Madness, Economics and Art. talk and slide show of works from his unpublished ‘note books’ series which focuses on contemporary understandings of Socialism and democracy in art and what that looks like. FREE. Ōtepoti-Dunedin City Library. April 2022
(Documentation coming soon)

Performance/ Group show. "Stopping Violence & Abuse, Public Medal Ceremony - Tao Wells". Sept 2020
Link

Live Interview - Tao Wells and Heidi Brickell. BFM Radio. Sept 2020 Link

Solo music experiment. "Shit Under Fingernail", 10 track album. August 2020
Bandcamp

Live Interview - Tao Wells and Jason Muir. Political Cutz. July 2020
On facebook,On youtube
Troll art - "Name one artist that is not a capitalist" -
869 Comments - not one socialist artist named . April, 2020
Link

Tao Wells Works 2009>2019

Wells' 'Beneficiary’s Office' named in top ten NZ art work of the decade by Spinoff Online Magazine. Dec. 2019 Link

Essay published about my work in international publication. Social Practices, By Chris Kraus. Semiotext(e) 2019 book

Performance by Tao Wells (referencing his publication "Easier"). - "Socialist Goody Two Shoes Hierarchy Battles". Saturday, March 30, at 2 PM – 4 PM. Samoa House Library
Level 2, 283 Karangahape Road, Auckland, New Zealand, 2019

Pics

Curated show, by Tao Wells - "Better or Equal". Local, national and international contemporary art show. Xmas Day, December 25th, 3 pm to 7pm & Boxing Day, Dec 26th 11am to 3pm. ONLY. Mornington Scout Hall, Dunedin, New Zealand. 2018
Pics

Book Launch - Easier - By Tao Wells. At the McLeavey Gallery, 147 Cuba st. Wellington, New Zealand. Friday 10th of August 4pm till 6. 2018.

Pic

Publication. Easier.

By Tao Wells.
With an essay by Chris Kraus.
Published by Govett-Brewster Gallery. New Plymouth. Launch. March 2018
Link Images Interview + Launch Posters

Group show. Murky Waters. Curated by Aroha Novak and Charlotte Parallel. Awa HQ, 175 Rattray St. Otepoti Dunedin, New Zealand. 9th December 12-3pm 2017
Link

Presentation. Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand 2017 Conference, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand. 6-10 December 2017
Link

Group Show. "See nothing". Percy Thompson Gallery, Stratford, New Zealand. December 2017.
Link

Group Show. Subconscious Restaurant. Curated by White Fungus magazine. Taoyuan Arts Center, Taiwan. October 2017. Link

Group Drawing Show. Poor People. Geoff's Studio. Dunedin. New Zealand. August 2017.
Link

Group Show. Note to poor. CoCA, Christchurch, June - August 2017.
Link

Performance. Public Art Melbourne Biennial Lab, October 21st, 2016
Link

Actor. The Hoover Diaries. By Amanda Newall. Experimental Documentary. Nation wide showings. July 2016.
Trailer

Article. Art That Risks Death Framed by an Industry Afraid of History. WHITE FUNGUS 15. 2016
Link

Article, Poem. On the Rich's Right of Refusal to Obey the Law & Leave Art Jingle. Watercoloured 5. Publication. Nelson New Zealand. Oct, 2015
PDF

Installation. 60% Off Duvet Covers at Warehouse/ The Now Festival of Tao. Wakefield, Tasman, New Zealand. 20th December, 11am to dark. 2015
Info link / Pics 1 / Pics 2/

Video work. New Ball. Circuit, Artist Film and Video Aoteroa New Zealand. Nov. 2015. Link

Article. Sold Out by NZ Academic Artist Fraud. Guest on The Daily Blog. October 14. 2015. Link

Advertising. Artists That Are Sponsored By Anonymous Benefactors. Wells Group Face Book PPR Boosted Campaign. Sept. 2015. Link

Facebook Comments Auction. Two paintings. $20 reserve + postage. Highest bid wins. I pay the tax. July. Link

Article. Have we sponsored 26 years of silence? Radical Freedoms, Christchurch Public Art Gallery, Bulletin 180. May 2015 PDF

Graphic Design. New Zealand Haki Design Submission. New Zealand Government/ Te Kawanatanga o Aeoteroa. May 2015 Article / Link

Poem. Dropping out. Watercoloured 3. Publication. Nelson New Zealand. March, 2015 pdf

Group Show. Wee Shocial. Put together by Gaby Montejo of The Social. XCHC Christchurch. New Zealand. April, 2015 Pics

Group Show: But I cannot wash it off etc. Curated by Nick Haig. The Refinery Artspace, Nelson, New Zealand. March, 2015 Pics / Bio

Article. The Nine Treaties of Waitangi and a declaration of independence. Subconscious Restaurant, Publication. Taiwan. Jan, 2015 Press Release /
Free Art Work - 501 vs 39 - poster down load

Article. Hoikio Hokioi Hu u! Article. Watercoloured 1. Publication. Nelson New Zealand. Oct, 2014 PDF

Scene choreographer. Ngā Korowai Atua / The Cloaks of the Atua. Nelson, New Zealand. Oct, 2014 Facebook / Video Doco

Group show. Election 2014, RM Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand. September, 2014
Website link / Pics / Review

Art Residency. The Social. Christchurch, New Zealand. August. 2014 Pics / Collage

Group show. National Contemporary Art Awards. Te Whare Taonga O Waikato/ Waikato Museum. 9 August - 9 November 2014 Post / Pics

I'm playing some home movies, for the public. Tower of Light (60min), A family reunion (60min) and America (30min). Entry by donation of food (to share), money or art. Pyramid Club, Rapare (Thurs) 10th April. 7pm. The People's Cinema. Rahoroi (Sat) 12 April. 2 pm Wellington New Zealand. 2014
Poster & Youtube ad

Article. Hoikio Hoikio Hu u, Others in Public. The Treaties of Waitangi. Matters 5, Arts Journal launch, Thursday the 13th of February at Robert Heald Gallery in Wellington & Ferari Gallery in Auckland. 2014.
Launch pics

Group show. Stock Take. 2014, Cecil Veda, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand.Gallery Facebook / Photo of work

Notes from the Long Term Unemployed. Solo Show at The Suter Public Art Gallery cancelled for unknown reasons, by Curator and Director. Nelson New Zealand. 2013

They also cancelled the Lecture/ discussion: Sir Geoffrey Palmer (ex-prime minister of New Zealand) was to give on "Art and Governance" 2013 Statement 1 Statement 2

Group show. Type 3 Knowledge, collaboration with Carmel Skeaff. Curated by Jessie Bullivant and Isadora Vaughan. SUPERMARKET 2013- International Art Fair- Stockholm Sweden. April 2013.
Pics / PDF

Auction For Tama Iti and Rangi Kemara. Auckland New Zealand. 2012
website , Navy Blue & grass, Single sock, no. 5
Black Corporate Casual, Single sock, no. 4
Sport Sock 2, Single sock no. 3

Solo Show. EFFORTLESS, minimal investment, maximum profit. Design Room, Nelson New Zealand, 29th June 2012
News Article / show pics

Solo Show. The Happy Bene - Movie- Installation, & Performance. Window, Auckland University Library. New Zealand Tuesday June 5 2012
Video of performance
Gallery website
Film Stills
The Happy Bene - THE MOVIE - on youtube

Performance. productive response to Mark Harvey's PRODUCTIVE BODIES/ ONCE WERE CIVIL SERVANTS. . Wellington Enjoy Public Art Gallery March 2012
Video

Theatrical Production. The Risk of Listening. Play. New Performance Festival. The Edge, Aotea Centre, Auckland New Zealand. 17 February, 2012 Review
Radio New Zealand interview 1
Radio Bfm interview 2
Images

Group Show. Cecil Veda Gallery. Wellington New Zealand. February 2012 Image

Group Show. Driftwood Curated by Caroline Johnston. Russian Frost Farmers. Wellington New Zealand 18 November - 2 December 2011Review

Performance. Chris Kraus & Tao Wells - in conversation
Where Art Belongs, Symposium. Massey University
Wellington New Zealand 29th October, 2011
Video / Transcript / notes

Group Show. Unrecognized. 19th >21 August. 13 Garret St, Wellington, New Zealand. 2011
Images

Performance. How to make money from art. Writer and Independent Publisher Richard Meros in an informal discussion with Tao Wells. Massey University, Block 2 Wellington New Zealand. Friday , July 29 1pm. 2011
Video / Article

Documentary. The Happy Bene - The movie of the performance "The Beneficiary's Office". Aro Valley Hall. Wellington New Zealand 22 July, 2011
Vimeo / Youtube

Group Show. "Concerned Citizens: Fundraising Exhibition for Victims of the October 15 2007 'Anti- Terrorism Raids'." Wellington, New Zealand. June 3rd, 2011
Images

Collaboration with Laura Wells, exhibition.
"6% forced unemployment. Fakes job competition. Stops wages rising." Rice And Beans Gallery. Dunedin, New Zealand
April 7th, 2011
News Article / Artist talk

Solo Show. "Humiliated"
Gambia Castle, Auckland, New Zealand. Sept 30th, 2010
Advertisements / Images

Collaboration. "The Beneficiary's Office" Wells Group & Letting Space, Wellington, New Zealand
Oct 18th, 2010
Images / Wells Group website

Book launch/ installation. "Art Aristocracy" , Peter McLeavey Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand, 2009
Images

Radio Show - Hosted by Tao, Laura Shepard & Cassius Wells

- The Face of Panic - blog

Fresh FM 104.8 Nelson-Tasman,
95.0 Takaka, 88.9 Blenheim.
Thursday 8pm-10

For track, reading and guest list: Link

Episode One, 7 June 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Two, 21 June 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Three, 5 July 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Four: 19 July 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Five: 2 August 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Six: 16 August 2012
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Episode Seven: 30 August 2012
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Episode Eight: 16 September 2012
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Episode Nine: 27 September 2012
Stream or Download

Episode Ten: 11 October 2012
Stream or Download

The Face of Panic - 10 Episodes
Supported by the
Peter McLeavey Gallery,
Wellington, New Zealand

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Friday, August 1, 2025

Tao Wells Contemporary Art