Quirky Fox Gallery is proud to present four brand new mini solo exhibitions. From 14 October 2025, visitors to Quirky Fox can experience an eclectic collection of new artworks from Monika Mitkute, María Gordon, Rob Foote and Rossella Paolini. From exploring themes of life and death, to nature’s elements personified, there are many genres and artistic styles to discover throughout the month of October at Quirky Fox Gallery.
Quirky Fox Mini Solo Shows
Exhibition Dates: 14 October – 11 November 2025
Quirky Fox
162 High Street, Hawera, New Zealand 4610
For more information on the exhibition including viewing and purchasing online please visit Quirky Fox’s website or email them at hello@quirkyfox.co.nz
Monika Mitkute – ‘Perennial Dream’
About ‘Perennial Dream‘ //
As a child I loved finding stray cats and bringing them home. Unfortunately, I had to do this in secret because my grandmother would never allow it. She really loved pets and flowers (that’s where I get my passion from) but even she had limits. So I was forced to hide the new arrivals in my room, in a box, in the closet, under my bed or in my bed. I loved to sit for hours stroking and caring for them, they needed me and I needed them. Usually, they were all discovered after a couple of days and set free. That compulsion, the strong desire I had to befriend another little soul guides all these new artworks. With my pen and brush I stroke them for hours, attend to every tiny detail and fix every part of them, and all are lovingly adorned with beautiful flowers. I can make them happy and carefree, and we can be together on the paper.
The pets in the artworks are still not mine, but I no longer take them without asking. Instead, their owners kindly send me photos of their beloved creatures asleep. Influenced by the pose, shape, and mood, I recreate a childhood memory of all the lost pets that I briefly loved and held before they were taken away. Now, undiscovered, they sleep peacefully and merge with their beds of vibrant flowers. Safe there, they’ll never go away and never be forgotten.
About Monika Mitkute //
Monika Mitkute is a Lithuanian artist living in Dublin.
Monika’s drawings style is influenced by her background in print making.
Her work has been exhibited in Ireland, Canada, London, Berlin and Japan. In her drawings Monika adapts parts of the natural world and creates new creatures in surroundings with hidden elements.
María Gordon – ‘A Childhood Forest‘
About ‘A Childhood Forest’ //
‘A Childhood Forest‘ pays tribute to what inspired María’s imagination as a child: the magic of the forest and its witches. This exhibition is filled with mossy and lunar creatures that once lived, and still live, among roots, memories, and foliage.
This intimate solo show is rooted in the imagination of my earliest years, when the forest was both a refuge and a realm of mystery. Watching trees, withering roses, and whispering rivers shaped my inner world long ago and continue to inspire me today.
This place oscillates between the wild and the sacred, inhabited by mossy creatures and lunar spirits—beings that once lived, and still live, among roots, memories, and foliage.
About María Gordon //
María Gordon is a self-taught artist based in Basque Country, Spain. Her work is inspired by the beech forests where she grew up, the grey Cantabrian Sea, and the foggy memories of childhood. Religious insights and a catholic education also play an important role, alongside influences from folklore and paganism.
Studying Philosophy shaped María’s artistic perspective and conceptual approach, exploring existential themes, such as hope, belief, inner shelter, and the relationship between nature and spirit.
María create silent stories about creatures and landscapes from other worlds, who come to be companions along the way. This interconnected universe allows her to elevate her personal experiences into a realm of myths and tales, blending dreams, memories and grief into the collective imagery.
While watercolour has become María’s primary medium, however expanding her artistic skills and exploring different techniques is one of the main impulses that drives her creative journey. In 2024, she started adding three dimensions to her illustrations, creating dioramas, articulated paper figures and peep shows.
Rob Foote – ‘A Matter of Life & Death’
About ‘A Matter of Life & Death’ //
Inspired by a Southern Hemisphere spring, ‘A Matter of Life and Death‘ explores how life and death, decay and rebirth, are inseparably intertwined.
About Rob Foote //
Rob Foote is an award-winning artist and illustrator based in New Zealand, celebrated internationally for his surreal and evocative artwork. Known for his mastery of charcoal, Rob creates dreamlike compositions that explore the boundaries between imagination and reality.
He is also the author and illustrator of Samples from the Lab which was a finalist for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Through his standalone artworks and illustrated projects, Rob captivates audiences with his unique artistic vision.
Rossella Paolini – ‘The Ladies of the Elements’
About ‘The Ladies of the Elements’ //
‘The Ladies of the Elements‘ portrays the elements (fire, earth, water, air) as monochrome portraits surrounded by hand-painted stencil tapestries. The use of colour is limited to the tapestries and the colours associated with the elements such as blue and silver for water, or red and gold for fire. The portraits are reminiscent of vintage portraits of noblewomen with a modern twist.
About Rossella Paolini //
Italian painter and illustrator Rossella Paolini was born in Trieste, a city of sea and woods, and lives in the historic heart of the city between a medieval castle and a Roman forum. She draws from a very young age, loving the illustrations of storybooks and animated films by Walt Disney.
As a child Rossella was passionate about visiting museums, archaeological sites and art galleries and began to paint in oils in the studio of a teacher, a pupil of the famous painter Renato Gottuso. Subsequently in her adulthood she participates and organises as Art Director various exhibitions in festivals, fairs and galleries exclusively on the fantasy theme. Specialising in illustration for children after attending an international school in Italy, she participates and wins many competitions with exhibitions in Italy and France.
Rossella Paolini creates and dreams in her studio where, in addition to the tools of the trade, she has a vast collection of illustrated books from which she draws inspiration.
About Quirky Fox Gallery //
When things got a bit messy in 2012, the owner of Quirky Fox, Vicki, decided to take a risk, quit her job and open her own business. Sick of seeing the same thing in every shop, Quirky Fox set out to showcase something a little bit different. Starting with a mixture of independent artists and commercially produced items, Vicki found working with independent artists more meaningful, rewarding and challenging.
With this in mind, Quirky Fox made the transition from design store to gallery. Showcasing both established and emerging talents, Quirky Fox invites both New Zealand and international artists to be part of its carefully curated range; all international artists are exclusive to the gallery within New Zealand, while New Zealand artists are exclusive to the gallery within the Taranaki region. Quirky Fox aims to provide a home for artists working in new contemporary and representational styles and introduce their works New Zealand and an international audience.
In 2019, Quirky Fox started to offer custom framing to complement the gallery. While taking customer preferences into consideration, the gallery aims to frame in a way that moves away from boring, white, decor-friendly frames towards pieces that enhance the artwork and continue to tell the artist’s story.
In late 2024, Quirky Fox purchased a building which it converted into a custom gallery space. The building was renovated over a two month period, before re-opening in 2025. This space has allowed the gallery to further hone its unique curated style, with a seperate gallery for exhibitions.
Each year the gallery donates to an environmental or mental health charity through its anniversary exhibition. As Quirky Fox continues to evolve and grow, we hope you will join us and our artists on our journey.
