Sarah Jane Moon Portrait of Georgina Beyer Acquired for New Zealand National Collection

A major portrait by New Zealand-born artist Sarah Jane Moon has been acquired for Aotearoa New Zealand’s national collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Georgina Beyer in the Peace Garden (2022) depicts the pioneering politician Georgina Beyer in the Wellington Botanic Gardens, a setting that reflects her lifelong commitment to justice, dignity and the right to live without fear or discrimination. The acquisition ensures the work will be preserved and made accessible to the public as part of New Zealand’s cultural record.

Born in Lower Hutt and now based in London, Moon is known for her figurative portrait practice exploring identity, gender and the performative self. Her work, characterised by vibrant colour and expressive mark-making, is held in major public and private collections in the UK and internationally, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The portrait of Beyer — one of the world’s first openly transgender mayors and later a Member of Parliament — was completed in August 2022 and is among the final works made of her before her death in March 2023. It forms part of Moon’s ongoing focus on LGBTQ+ figures whose lives and work have shaped public culture and expanded ideas of representation and belonging.

Reflecting on the work, Moon described Beyer as “determined, principled and fearless”, noting that her visibility as a public figure “paved the way for generations of young New Zealanders”.

The acquisition marks a significant moment both in recognising Beyer’s legacy and in celebrating the work of a New Zealand artist contributing to international contemporary portraiture.