Artist in Residence: Jen Alexandra

In March, artist Jen Alexandra installed a series of sculptural forms throughout the house and garden as part of her doctoral research. Jen's work explores a simple but compelling question: what happens when objects made for gallery spaces are brought into somewhere as storied as the Ngaio Marsh house? "I wanted to see what happened when my work was experienced within the richly layered context of the house," she explains.

Embracing the constraints of the heritage site, Jen's installation methods were deliberately temporary and visible. Forms leaned against walls, hung from doorframes, and draped across surfaces, settling into the house rather than being fixed to it. The act of placing was part of the work itself. A small group of invited visitors moved through the house during the residency, encountering the sculptures throughout the house and in the garden, each setting offering a different kind of conversation between the new and the established.

The experience has opened up new directions for Jen's practice, and we're thrilled to be part of that journey. A public exhibition is planned for November, supported by the Ngaio Marsh House & Heritage Trust, and we can't wait to welcome a wider audience in to experience what Jen creates next.