Chartwell Reflections by Hamish McKay

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Being

Creative visual thinking is fundamental to us all as human beings as we strive to understand our sense of self and the world. Chartwell seeks to deepen understanding about the importance of art and creative thinking for our future and our wellbeing.

Seeing

Chartwell is an explorer of the visual world. We want to know more about how and what we see. When both the eye and the mind are active, the creative process opens to the artist and viewer. The Chartwell Collection provides the viewer many examples of creative visual thought in action.

Making

Chartwell supports artists as they make and think. Making is an active and connected process, involving the interaction of intention, intuition and intellect with the mediums of the world. Chartwell is making too - making a difference through philanthropy and enabling access to creative activities and research.

Thinking

Chartwell encourages everyone to think about art and the creative process with a commitment to drive an understanding about the significance of the visual arts to general creative thinking. We share a curiosity to know and learn more: an imaginative, ongoing investigation.

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3 June 2025

Giovanni Intra, Untitled (Studded Suit). 1990, wool, polyester, metal studs, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Chartwell Collection, purchased 2003.

CONGRATULATIONS on 50 years of Chartwell.

A triumph on so many levels, The Chartwell Collection and it’s activity has been vital to the enjoyment and understanding of art / creative thinking in this country. I can’t think where we’d be without Rob, Sue and the team’s dynamic support of artists over this past five decades.

The importance of Chartwell came home to me last night when I saw Giovanni’s 'Untitled (Studded Suit)'. I recall buying this work from Giovanni helping him in starting a new life as the influential gallerist and writer he became in L.A….. Then, after several years selling the work to Chartwell helped me enormously in keeping my gallery going during tough times…… That one work spoke to me about Rob / Chartwell’s role in support / belief in the arts. The gift that keeps on giving, it still looked so potent and edgy…..