About Us

John Gow

Director

With extensive experience advising private collectors and acting as a consultant to corporate collections, museums and public institutions, John Gow is an expert in New Zealand art. Along with Gary Langsford, John is a founding director of Gow Langsford Gallery and was director of John Leech Gallery. Now with over thirty years in the industry, John has specialist expertise in historical New Zealand art and indigenous artefacts and a personal interest in collecting 19^th and early 20th-century photography, contemporary New Zealand paintings and sculpture, and post-contact Maori objects.

Currently a member of the Northern Club Art Committee, John is also a member of the Mackelvie Trust Board which manages the bequest of the Mackelvie Estate to the Auckland Art Gallery. He also sits on the Spark Art Trust which owns and oversees the Spark art collection and the Britomart Arts Trust.

John is based at our Kitchener St Gallery.

Gary Langsford

Director

Gary Langsford is a founding director of Gow Langsford Gallery and is also co-owner of design55, a design store specialising in limited edition furniture and objects.

Gary has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) and Art History from Elam School of Fine Arts, and has worked as a specialist in contemporary New Zealand art for over three decades. Increasingly focussed on the global art market he travels frequently to art fairs and auctions abroad, particularly in Europe and America. He has specialist knowledge in 20^th Century Applied Arts and has a significant personal collection of art, objet d’art and furniture that reflects this expertise.

Gary is based at our Lorne St Gallery.

Anna Jackson

Director

Working closely with Gary and John, Anna manages the exhibition programme, staff, client services and Art Fairs. She oversees publications and online communications, and works alongside the artists in delivering exhibitions and events.  Anna has a Master of Arts Management (2010) and a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Auckland University of Technology (2002).

Shona Irwin

Group Accountant

Shona joined Gow Langsford Gallery in 2009 as Accountant.  She is a member of the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Hannah Valentine

Head of Design/Senior Advisor

Hannah joined Gow Langsford in 2011. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts (2017) and a conjoint Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts (Hons), majoring in Italian from the University of Auckland (2011).  She works closely with the Directors preparing exhibitions and publications, and in client services. She is the Gallery’s in-house designer and is based at our Lorne St Gallery. 

Priya Patel

International Operations Manager

As our International Operations Manager, Priya manages the logistics for the Gallery’s global affairs, including participation in Art Fairs as well as managing domestic freight and gallery databases. She also works alongside the Directors to deliver client services. Priya has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts (Hons), Elam School of Fine Arts (2011).

Cassandra Thompson

Front of House/Digital Content Manager

Cassandra is based at our Lorne St Gallery, where alongside the general running of the gallery in the Front of House role, she also manages the gallery's social media, website and e-commerce platform. Cass has completed a Bachelor of Architectural Studies majoring in Interior Architecture (2011) and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Art History and Theory, and Classics (2015).

Gabriella Stead

Gallery Assistant (Part Time, Mon-Wed)

Gabriella is based at our Kitchener St Gallery where she supports the general operation of the gallery in the Gallery Assistant role, and manages client restoration services. Gabriella has a Bachelor of Arts  majoring in Art History and Medieval Studies from the University of Auckland (2014), and BA Honours in Art History (2016). Her Honours research focused on material culture with specific reference to fashion and costume. 

Nellie Osborne

Gallery Assistant (Part Time, Wed-Fri) (Maternity Leave)

Nellie supports the general running of the Kitchener Street gallery in both the Front of House and Registrar roles; assisting with day to day operations of the gallery space, including client services and preparation of valuation documents. Nellie has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Management & International Business conjoint with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Asian Studies, Victoria University of Wellington (2013).

Finn McCahon-Jones

Gallery Logistics (Part Time, Thursdays)

Working one day a week, Finn assists with gallery logistics and art freight. He is currently studying Art History Honours full-time at Auckland University; Finn has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Auckland University of Technology (2003); and over 14 years’ experience working in the museum and gallery sector.

Shawnee Tekii

Gallery Assistant (Part time Thursday – Saturday) (Maternity Cover)

Shawnee supports the general running of the Kitchener Street gallery in both the Front of House and Gallery Assistant roles. She assists with day to day operations of the gallery space and client services. She is a practicing artist and recent graduate of Whitecliffe School of Arts (2019).