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Although Eden Park has seen some epic battles, one of the stadium’s latest clashes was less violent but the rivalry was no less fierce. Times team member Kerry Lee was there to witness the 2026 Art Battle Grand Final.
Some of New Zealand’s best artists battled it out recently to see who would be crowned 2026 Art Battle champion.
This year, 100 artists competed in contests at 10 locations around Auckland with a dozen
finalists heading to Eden Park where Agnes Ishak claimed top honours.
Pukekohe artist and teacher, Logan Moffat (who has been featured in Franklin Times) also attended the final.
“I could feel the energy and there was a great atmosphere,” he says “At the end of the night I saw many happy guests walking thrilled to have a piece of art from an artist who
participated in the battle.
“All around, it was an awesome, vibrant, high energy fun event.”
Works created by participating artists were up for auction, rounding off the event. Moffat’s painting sold for the tidy sum of $370.
In addition to the main event and spotlight artists, there were also interactive artists including Frankie Meadon, Rashi Shandilya and two ‘quick draw’ portrait artists, Orion
Mabelle and Lesley Ly, who were drawing portraits within just 10-15 minutes.
In between the art battles, we were treated to entertainment including storytelling by The
Sandman (aka Marcus Winter), music and hip hop dancing by Empire Studios.
While details for next year’s Art Battle heats are still to be confirmed, the first are expected
to begin early next year.
See artbattle.com for more information.
