About Us
Launched in 2016, Contemporary HUM is a hub dedicated to the international activity of visual arts practitioners from Aotearoa New Zealand. As the only forum of its kind, our core mission is to champion and support Aotearoa’s artists participating in the global arts landscape, acting as a catalyst for critical discourse and generating new relationships and opportunities.
Our digital output is rooted in long-form critical publications, for which we commission international writers, curators and artists to respond to and review contemporary projects around the world. It also extends to a Calendar of international art events, and a podcast series that delves into artists’ practices, exhibitions, residencies and artworks.
In parallel to this, we cultivate debate and visibility by initiating strategic partnerships and public events, such as panel discussions, while working behind the scenes to build networks, advise on projects and broker opportunities for our artists.
In October 2025, Contemporary HUM came to a close, ceasing to publish new content. Click here for more information on this closure.
Board
Benjamin Work
Trustee
Benjamin Work is an artist, Tāmaki Makaurau-born and raised, with Tongan and Scottish heritage. Work’s evolution exemplifies the new trajectories of artists reared on American sub/pop culture, while also explicitly exploring the complexities of both cultural institutions and the Moana Oceania diaspora. Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Work has pushed his art in new directions over the last decade. Inspired by his research throughout museums across the globe; that house Tongan iconography, found on cultural treasures such as ‘akau tau (weaponry), his refined, graphic paintings have sought to find new spaces and ways for audiences to engage with Tonga’s visual culture, both inside institutions and on the streets. He is also the author of Whenua Fonua ‘Enua and Motutapu books.
Heather Galbraith
Chair
Heather Galbraith is a curator, writer and art educator. She is a Professor of Fine Art at Toi Rauwharangi College of Creative Arts, Massey University in Wellington. She is the curatorial collaborator with 8 makers from Aotearoa and Australia, for the ongoing project Deep Material Energy (www.deepmaterialenergy.com), and recently curated Judy Darragh: Competitive Plastics for Objectspace, Tāmaki Makauraru (2021) and the Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki, Ōtautahi (2022). She was Managing Curator for SCAPE Public Art in Ōtautahi, Christchurch for three iterations (of a 6-week art in public space season) in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and was commissioner for the 2015 NZ pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Simon Denny: Secret Power, deputy commissioner for Bill Culbert: Front Door Out Back, in 2013, and co-curator for Francis Upritchard: Save Yourself, and deputy commissioner in 2009. Heather has a BFA from Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland and an MA in Curating and Arts Administration from Goldsmith’s College, London. She worked for seven years as Exhibitions Organiser at Camden Arts Centre, London. Currently she supervises Masters and PhD candidates at Massey University, writes about art, undertakes curatorial projects and is Mum to a very active young daughter.
Pauline Autet
Founder and Trustee
Pauline Autet is an independent editor, curator and project manager. Based in Paris since 2016, Pauline founded Contemporary HUM in collaboration with other art professionals from Aotearoa New Zealand based in Europe and beyond. She previously worked at City Gallery Wellington, 30upstairs Gallery and co-founded the nomadic gallery Elbowroom. Following her experience as attendant of the New Zealand pavilion at the Venice Biennale for Simon Denny’s Secret Power exhibition in 2015, she thought something could be done to bridge the gap between Aotearoa and the wider art world and developed HUM. Since 2016 she has worked with the Aotearoa and French art scenes concurrently. She is in charge of the editorial platform TextWork, initiated by the Fondation Pernod Ricard and in collaboration with the French Ministry of Culture. She is also Executive Director of Trampoline, a non-profit initiative created by a group of private organisations in France to support and raise the international profile of artists from the French art scene.
Hiraani Himona
Treasurer
Hiraani Himona (Ngāi Te Whatuiāpiti, Ngāti Rangiwhakāewa and Ngāti Hikarara) has over 20 years of experience of management in arts organisations in the UK and Aotearoa. She has been the Executive Director of Te Tuhi Contemporary Art Gallery since 2015. She was previously the Deputy Director of the South London Gallery. After gaining a science degree from Massey University she established a career in the arts, through a background of providing opportunities for diverse communities, including working in Māori development (Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Education), disability (Mental Health Media), gender and sexuality (York Lesbian Arts Festival; Samesame but Different) and youth at risk (Hi8us South), before moving into the Contemporary Art sector where she continues to focus on providing opportunities for artists, the sector, and its wider communities.
Jude Chambers
Secretary
With over 18 years' experience in the arts and cultural sector, Jude Chambers is an arts leader and freelance consultant with a demonstrated history of successfully designing and delivering major international projects, national and international partnerships, funding programmes, capability building and advocacy initiatives. Jude joined Creative New Zealand toi Aotearoa in 2005, and held the position of Manager, International Initiatives and Services from 2012 to 2022. This role was responsible for an ambitious and complex programme to connect New Zealand artists and arts organisations with global markets and networks. The role included overseeing New Zealand’s participation at the Venice Biennale Arte and at the Edinburgh Festivals. She has also held a variety of governance roles in the not-for-profit and environmental sectors.
Susan Hitchiner
Trustee
Susan Hitchiner is part of the communities of New Zealanders who are living overseas. She has been living in Paris, France for nearly ten years. Susan is an independent director focusing on third sector (not-for-profit/charitable) organisations and, until 2023 when she retired from the Institute, was a chartered member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors (CMInstD). During her time in Paris, Susan continued to hold board positions: in Aotearoa; for an international organisation; and for L'Association France Nouvelle Zélande; before joining Contemporary HUM. Susan brings governance, strategic and financial management skills and experience to Contemporary HUM and a lay perspective to the board's deliberations. She is nonetheless an 'appreciator' of visual arts and has a particular interest in supporting HUM's role in promoting awareness and understanding of Aotearoa's artists globally.
Team
Past collaborators
Alena Kavka - Managing Director
Marie Shannon - Copy-editing
Amy Weng ; Anne-Marie Te Whiu ; Bruce E. Phillips ; Catherine Dale ; Chloe Lane ; Frances Loeffler - Associate Editors
Cat Ruka ; Freya Finch ; Hanahiva Rose ; Jack Gray ; Jessica Hubbard ; Jessica Palalagi; Matariki Williams ; Tendai John Mutambu ; Vera Mey ... - Expert readers
Frances Wright - Communications Coordinator
Emma Kaniuk ; Eva Charlton - Graphic design
Hamish Petersen ; Marc Chesterman - Mixer & Editor for HUM podcast
Sons & Co. - Website
Genista Jurgens - Communications Director
Hamish Petersen - Senior Editor
Ashley Mackenzie-White ; Isobel Dryburgh - Research and Community Managers
Millie Riddell - Assistant Editor
Hannah Murray - Special Projects and Social Media Coordinator
Ane Tonga ; Chloe Geoghegan ; Matariki Williams - Trustees
Jess Douglas - Copy-editing
Winsome Wild - Communications
Maria Julia Guichard ; Crème Fraîche - Website and logo
Guidelines
While Contemporary HUM is no longer an active publishing platform, our Writing Guidelines and Style Guide will remain available as a resource for writers and editors. We hope you will continue to find it useful in your work.