About Us

Gallery De Novo is a unique and vibrant gallery promoting contemporary New Zealand art in the centre of Dunedin city. We have a loyal following of customers locally, nationally and internationally and we absolutely love sourcing the perfect piece of art for our customers. We represent a broad range of artists with artwork of a very high standard whilst also ensuring that art can be achievable within any budget.

Our onsite framing workshop is one of Dunedin's busiest and most popular framing hubs we have a great reputation for providing a creative and competitively priced framing service to the public and also frame all the artworks hanging in the gallery.

We are a friendly, knowledgeable and approachable team, and this has helped to create a welcoming environment at Gallery De Novo. Since opening its doors, the gallery continues to be open 7 days a week Monday - Friday 9:30 - 5:30 and Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 3:00pm

Gallery De Novo was established in 2005, the product of many years of planning for owners Richelle Byers and Liz Fraser. Both Richelle and Liz gained degrees in Art History and went on to work extensively in galleries both locally and Internationally. After many years overseas they returned to live in Dunedin to raise their families. The strength of the thriving Otago art scene made them recognise the need for a gallery with a fresh, passionate and honest approach to art.

Gallery De Novo has grown into one of Dunedin's leading galleries with an exciting and eclectic mix of talented New Zealand contemporary artists.

Richelle Byers

Director

Richelle Byers is the co-owner of Gallery De Novo. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Massey University, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Post Graduate Diploma from the University of Otago.
While studying Richelle worked at a private gallery in Dunedin, that also specialised in conservation framing. It is here she gained her experience as a picture framer, which led her on to becoming one of New Zealand's 1st Guild Commended Framers in 1997.
From 1998 – 2002 Richelle lived in London and worked for Trowbridge Gallery, on the Kings Road in Chelsea -dealing in antique art and hand-made frames. The gallery had branches in America also, where she assisted in Art Fairs on an annual basis, and was regularly dealing with major international clients.

Liz Fraser

Director

Liz Fraser is a co-owner of Gallery De Novo. Before establishing Gallery De Novo in 2005 Liz gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honours in Art History from Otago University. While studying she volunteered at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and on graduating took up a full time position in one of Dunedin’s leading dealer galleries, where she also gained the Guild Commended Framer’s qualification.
In 1999 Liz moved to London and took up a position at the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly, where she was surrounded by some major British art collections and was a consultant framer to the Academy, students of the Academy and the surrounding Cork Street galleries. In 2001 she began working for a private London dealer gallery, Manya Igel Fine Arts, where she stayed until her return to Dunedin in 2004.

Helena Wills

Picture Framer / Art Sales

Helena Wills has been a valuable member of the Gallery De Novo team since 2008. She has close to 20 years experience in working in galleries specialising in New Zealand art and conservation picture framing. In 1998 Helena was awarded her Guild Commended Framer qualification, and she also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Canterbury.
She has clients and artists alike that call on her specifically for her framing expertise and she loves helping advise customers on purchasing that special piece of art.

Victoria McIntosh

Picture Framer / Art Sales

Victoria has worked at De Novo since 2021. She graduated from Dunedin School of Art, first in printmaking and later returning to study jewellery and metal smithing. She is a celebrated New Zealand artist with works housed in the collections of Te Papa, Auckland Museum, The Dowse, Otago Museum and the Hocken Library.
Victoria was trained as a picture framer some 20 years ago in Dunedin, where she gained her Guild Commened Framer qualification. Her passion for textiles and all-things-vintage have made her our in-house "Repair Shop" guru. With her experience in textiles she specialises in embroidery lacing and needlework.