Best in Show Wellington

Best in Show Wellington 2024 was the second iteration of Best in Show. For this edition, Julia Holden became the first artist in residence at the SPCA Wellington Centre, painting portraits of animals in SPCA care who were awaiting adoption and creating new work for the exhibition.

SPCA Wellington Centre is located in the historic Fever Hospital on Mount Victoria, within the green belt of Newtown. Originally opened in 1919 as a hospital for human patients, the building opened its doors to animals in December 2013 and is now a centre for animal welfare, rehabilitation and rehoming.

The Centre is also home to the Margaret Doucas Animal Hospital, a fully equipped veterinary hospital providing care for animals in SPCA custody as well as emergency veterinary services for animals in the wider community.

The exhibition was held at dog-friendly Parrotdog Brewery in Lyall Bay, bringing together portrait commissions with a new series of portraits celebrating Wellington’s less-loved ‘pests’.

The exhibition raised $1,900 for SPCA Wellington Centre.