Snake Pit

Name
Snake Pit
Date of birth
Aug 2011
Place of birth
Auckland (city)/Auckland (region)/New Zealand
Date of death
Dec 2012
Place of death
Auckland (city)/Auckland (region)/New Zealand
Biography
Founded in August 2011, by siblings Rose and Sam Thomas alongside James Wylie, Snake Pit was an artist run gallery and production space that operated until December 2012.

Snake Pit's inception began when the landlord of iconic three story building at 33 High Street offered the founders operation of the building before its pending demolition.

Recent graduates of Elam Art School, Sam Thomas and James Wylie, converted the upstairs area into a gallery, for production and exhibition. While the ground floor was transformed into a clothing store managed by Rose Thomas, alongside rentable artist studios. Additionally the basement, formerly known as Club Mirage in the 1980s and The Box in the 1990s, was refurbished into a venue for emerging bands.

The gallery space opened with its first exhibition 'Spoil Sport' September 30th 2011. In the just over a year that Snake Pit operate the main gallery space held 22 exhibitions with work by over 250 artists.

Prior to the demolition of 33 High Street, in November 2012 Snake Pit vacated the site, with many of the resident artists relocating to a new studio space within the Karangahape Road arcade. However, the new location lacked an accompanying exhibition space, besides a few group shows in other venues collaborated with Snake Pit, their last exhibiting occurred in 2013.

In November 2012 Snake Pit vacated 33 High Street, due to the buildings impending demolition. Many of Snake Pit's resident artists relocated to a studio space in the Karangahape Road arcade. However the new location lacked an accompanying exhibition space. Post-closing, Snake Pit held a final exhibition at Sue Crockford Gallery, in November 2012 titled 'Club Mirage'.