Rate My Professor Hope Wilson

Hope Wilson is the Curator Art in the Pictorial Collections at Hocken Collections Te Uare Taoka o Hākena, part of the University of Otago Library. In this capacity, she oversees the curation and presentation of art collections, organizing exhibitions, talks, and tours that showcase both historical treasures and contemporary works. Among her notable contributions are the curation of 'Splash Club', a solo exhibition by Emily Hartley-Skudder developed during the 2023 Frances Hodgkins Fellowship, complete with artist talks, walk-throughs, and a richly illustrated publication. She also led efforts for 'Rita Angus: He Ringatoi Hou O Aotearoa / Rita Angus: New Zealand Modernist', hosting closing weekend exhibition talks, as well as 'Artists and Letters, Pictures and Words'. Additional exhibitions under her guidance include 'Nirun' by Sorawit Songsataya, which explores relationships to place; a meticulously crafted display honouring Chinese settlers featuring a 5.8 metre-long embroidered piece; 'Otago treasures under the lens' highlighting photographic collections; and 'Collection Work' celebrating recent acquisitions. Wilson has conducted behind-the-scenes tours of the Hocken art collection and contributed to annual calendar selections, fostering greater public engagement with the holdings.

Prior to joining Hocken Collections, Hope Wilson served as Director of Blue Oyster Art Project Space in Dunedin from 2020 to 2022. Her educational background includes a BA Honours in Art History and English from the University of Otago and a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Massey University. She has contributed to scholarly publications, including an essay 'These Vessels' related to the Unifying Threads project in 2025, 'Walking the Ridge' published by Adam Art Gallery in 2017, and 'In Her Hand: Letters of Romantic-Era British Women Writers in New Zealand Collections' by Otago University Press in 2013. Currently on parental leave until October 2026, Wilson's curatorial work has significantly enhanced access to and appreciation of New Zealand's artistic heritage at the University of Otago.