Magma 2

Sara Hughes, Magma 2, 2025
Commissioned by the Uptown Business Association

This 512 sqm mural, spray painted onto Watercare’s Khyber Pass reservoir, is one of Auckland’s largest outdoor murals and the creation of renowned New Zealand artist Sara Hughes. Hughes created the work in 2017 and in 2025 created a new edition which brings renewed vitality to the Uptown district.

“I consider the artwork a ‘volcanic scape’, it is abstract in form, yet it is influenced by the history and geography of the area. The real feature of the wall for me was its extremely rough surface – I have used it as a feature of the artwork applying spray paint to create many veiled layers of paint to build up a rich surface”.

- Sara Hughes

Auckland based artist Sara Hughes is a highly regarded dynamic artist with a well-established career across Australasia. Known for her captivating large-scale installations and public artworks that response to history and site, Hughes’ response to this specific location brings her experience of working with complex space and colour to the fore, creating this exciting artwork for the Uptown district.

Hughes is represented by Gow Langsford Gallery.

Magma

Originally painted in January 2017, Magma brightened the Uptown area for nearly eight years, bringing colour, vitality and a sense of place. Now, Magma 2 continues that legacy, offering a focal point that enhances the vibrancy and  character of the area.



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