The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatu is a memorial to the second Bishop of Nelson, Andrew Burn Suter (1830-1895).  Bishop Suter and his wife Amelia travelled to Nelson in 1867 to lead the Anglican diocese and they became major figures in early Nelson society.  In addition to his official duties, Bishop Suter also busied himself with artistic pursuits as a recreational painter and collector of art.  In 1889 he established the Bishopdale Sketching Club (now the Nelson Suter Art Society) and served as its first President and critic.  He was also a friend of the painter John Gully (1819-1888) and developed a substantial collection of that artist's work.

Mary Elizabeth TRIPE (b.1870, d. 1939)

Portrait of Bishop Suter 1902

Oil on canvas 1280 x 1200

Purchased by public subscription in 1902

In 1890, the Bishop suffered a stroke which left him incapacitated for the last five years of his life.  During this period he discussed his 'long cherised wish' to present an art gallery to the people of Nelson.  Immediately after the Bishop's death in 1895, Amelia began to realise her husband's dream.  She gifted some land, money and Bishop Suter's art collection as the founding donation.  Herself unwell, Amelia then returned to England and died barely a year after her husband.

Mrs Amelia Suter

Tyree Studio Collection 37772/3 (detail)

Nelson Provincial Museum

Amelia left the building of a gallery in the hands of the founding Board of Trustees, comprising leading figures in Nelson society.  In 1899 the 'Bishop Suter Art Gallery'  designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere (1856-1952) was opened alongside the old Matthew Campbell School.  It is now the oldest purpose-built art gallery in the country and in 2007 was designated as a Category II Heritage Building.

In the early 1970s, the building was expanded to accomodate the growing activites and popularity of the Gallery.  This included the Sargood and McKee Gallery extensions along with the addition of a theatre and cafe.  These extensions were designed by the esteemed Christchurch-based architect Sir Miles Warren and initiated by The Suter's first professional director, Austin Davies.