Tauranga Art Gallery have announced the under-18s only Muka Youth Prints exhibition, which will make its return next Monday.

The project is based around the concept that the best way to make young people acquainted with contemporary art is to get real works of art into their hands.

The Muka Youth Prints 2015 exhibition will be on display at the Tauranga Art Gallery from next Monday. Photo: TAG.

The gallery's marketing and media co-ordinator, Martine Rolls, says normally the cost of an artwork is a bit of a stumbling block for young people, as art is considered to be very serious, which often means very expensive.

'But Muka offers a solution,” she explains. 'A number of well-known artists from all over the world have been invited to produce a set of small lithographs which measure roughly 100mm x 200mm in size.

'They have been brought together in the Muka Youth Prints exhibition from which adults are barred.”

Each lithograph in the 40-piece collection is priced at $67 to attract young buyers. Visitors are only allowed to enter the two-hour show once, and can buy a maximum of three lithographs.

The work reflects the normal style and concern of the artists and there is 'no patronising or talking down to children in any way”, says Martine.

'The names of well-known artists are covered,” she adds, 'so the prints are chosen by their appeal.

'Muka wants young art collectors to look at the work itself, not considering the fame of the artist or potential for financial gain.”

The Muka Youth Print project was initially intended as a one-off, but after 30 years its popularity has grown immensely and it is now considered as iconic.

Since the beginnings, about 50,000 original works have been bought by Kiwi kids and teens who have taken the opportunity to start a fine art collection.

The collection holds forty original lithographs only, and all works are sold unframed for $67 each. Special Muka frames can be ordered for $70 each. 


The Muka Youth Prints 2015 exhibition is on display at the Tauranga Art Gallery from Monday, August 17, between 3.30pm – 5.30pm.

Please note: This exhibition is for young people, aged five-to-18 only. No adults are not allowed in the exhibition space.