Megan Dunn

Arts Editor

Megan Dunn is co-editor of The Spinoff Art. She is the author of one sly book about a book called Tinderbox. In her spare time, she interviews mermaids.

Art
Oct 30, 2019

Sex, love and Georgie Pie: a fan letter to Jacqueline Fahey

At Wellington's New Zealand Portrait Gallery for one last week is Jacqueline Fahey's Suburbanites, a survey show showcasing 60 years of the artist's riotous oil paintings. Megan Dunn writes a fan letter, in lieu of a review.

Read on.

Art
Oct 9, 2019

A New Zealand modernist in London: The Royal Academy celebrates Rita Angus

In 2020 the Royal Academy of Arts opens the exhibition Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist. It's the first-ever show of a New Zealand artist in an institution that dates back to the days of Captain Cook.

Read on.

Art
Sep 27, 2019

How the Guerrilla Girls are still shaking up the art world after 30 years

The Guerrilla Girls are an infamous group of feminist art activists who've been calling out sexism and prejudice in the art world since the 80s. On the eve of her first trip to New Zealand, group member 'Frida Kahlo' talks to Megan Dunn. 

Read on.

Art
Sep 4, 2019

Things I Learned at Art School: Yvonne Todd

The acclaimed photographer on the appeal of fashion, Madonna's aging process and what photography students never need to photograph again. 

Read on.

Art
Aug 27, 2019

Subverted symmetry: Karen Walker on framing Frances Hodgkins

Fashion, beauty and modernism all play a part in the exhibition Frances Hodgkins: European Journeys. Megan Dunn talks to fashion designer Karen Walker about her Hodgkins-inspired fashion collection.

Read on.

Art
Aug 25, 2019

The man behind The Hand: Artist Ronnie van Hout on why he made Quasi

The giant hand that captivated and disgusted the nation is now settling into its new Wellington home. Spinoff arts editor Megan Dunn talked to Ronnie van Hout, the man who made Quasi.

Read on.

Art
Aug 17, 2019

Things I Learned at Art School: Simon Denny

Things I Learned at Art School is a new series featuring artists discussing how they do what they do and know what they know. In the second instalment, Megan Dunn talks to Berlin-based New Zealander Simon Denny about Michael Parekowhai, teaching and technology, and an idea involving the online shoe store Zappos that didn't work out. 

Read on.

Art
Aug 13, 2019

Pastorale: an art show about the environment, minus the moralising

The best little art show about the environment is big on charm and low on preaching and you can find it at Robert Heald Gallery in Wellington for one more week. Megan Dunn reviews.

Read on.

Art
Jul 6, 2019

Things I Learned at Art School: Edith Amituanai

A New Spinoff Art interview series. New Zealand visual artists on how they do what they do and how they know what they know.

Read on.

Art
Jul 3, 2019

Introducing The Spinoff Art

Introducing The Spinoff Art section, telling the big and little stories about contemporary art in New Zealand including this one about a small but perfectly formed heist...

Read on.

Society
May 21, 2019

The Price of Admission: On the Auckland Art Fair 2019

Megan Dunn looks back on this year's Auckland Art Fair and what the fair means to New Zealand art galleries, buyers and artists.

Read on.

Society
Mar 21, 2019

Final boarding call: Yona Lee’s ‘In Transit’

The fifth work in Yona Lee's In Transit series is currently exhibiting at Wellington's City Gallery. Megan Dunn writes on the aspirations of the piece and how comfortably it sits in a gallery context.

Read on.

Books
Aug 16, 2018

Why is fish-sex so hot right now? (Because apparently it is)

Mermaid expert Megan Dunn reviews horny fish-fucking novel, The Pisces, which she celebrates as "funny, profane, nasty, disturbing and taboo-breaking".

Read on.

Books
Feb 5, 2018

The Monday Excerpt: ‘Tinderbox’ by Megan Dunn

An excerpt from Tinderbox, the new memoir by Wellington writer Megan Dunn.

Read on.

The Spinoff is made possible by the generous support of the following organisations.
Please help us by supporting them.