The Reel Raven collective is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive voices in contemporary art and media, blending sharp cultural critique with bold visual storytelling. Founded by artist and filmmaker Raven McGregor—a former teacher and former director of the Auckland Art Gallery—to challenge what it means to make art in a post-colonial, digital age, their work resists easy categorisation. What unites their projects is a refusal to conform: whether through experimental film, immersive installations, or provocative social commentary, Reel Raven’s output demands the viewer’s active engagement. Their ethos is simple—art should be a mirror, a weapon, or a distraction, depending on who’s looking.

At the heart of Reel Raven’s practice is a deep distrust of institutional art spaces, which they’ve repeatedly subverted. Their 2021 exhibition *The Last Broadcast* at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, for instance, transformed the gallery’s archives into a live-streamed, interactive performance, where visitors could manipulate recorded interviews with Māori scholars and politicians. The piece wasn’t just a critique of colonial documentation—it was a tool to reclaim agency. Similarly, their 2022 film *The Silent Treatment*, a collaboration with actor Mānuka Taylor, reimagines the trauma of residential care through sound and silence, a method that’s earned them comparisons to the likes of Kathleen McCullough but with a distinctly local flavour.

Yet Reel Raven’s work isn’t confined to galleries. Their 2023 project *Raven’s Nest*, a series of short films shot across Aotearoa, explores the intersections of indigenous identity and technology. One standout piece, *The Algorithm of Us*, follows a group of young Māori and Pasifika artists navigating social media algorithms, using found footage and AI-generated text to expose the performative pressures of online culture. The film’s raw, unfiltered tone resonated with audiences, proving that even in an era of hyper-consumption, there’s room for art that feels urgent and unscripted.

The collective’s influence extends beyond their own work, too. They’ve mentored a generation of Kiwi artists—many of whom now operate at the intersection of film, digital art, and activism—while also pushing boundaries in how art is funded and distributed. Their 2022 *Reel Raven Fund*, a crowdfunded initiative supporting underrepresented creators, has raised over $250,000 since its launch, a testament to the power of grassroots support in an industry often dominated by big names. What sets them apart is their refusal to be pigeonholed: they’re not just artists; they’re curators, activists, and disruptors, all rolled into one.

this link offers a glimpse into their ongoing work, where every project feels like a provocation—whether it’s a live performance, a digital installation, or a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll. Their ability to merge tradition with innovation, and critique with creativity, makes them a force to be reckoned with in the global art scene.

• Reel Raven’s 2021 exhibition *The Last Broadcast* at Te Papa Museum attracted over 10,000 visitors, far exceeding the gallery’s usual attendance for experimental projects.
• Their 2022 film *The Silent Treatment* was screened at the Sydney Film Festival and later acquired by the National Film Archive of Australia, marking a rare international recognition for a Kiwi collective.
• Since launching the Reel Raven Fund in 2022, they’ve supported over 30 artists, with many of their mentees now featured in major biennials like Te Tape and Artspace.
• Reel Raven’s work has been featured in The Guardian, The New Zealand Herald, and ArtReview, with their 2023 project *Raven’s Nest* winning the Auckland Art Gallery’s Public Choice Award.
• Their 2021 installation *The Archive of Unseen Things* at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa became a viral sensation, with over 50,000 views on social media within a month.

What makes Reel Raven’s approach so compelling is their refusal to be boxed in. They’re not just artists—they’re storytellers, activists, and cultural commentators, all in one. Their work challenges us to think differently about what art can do, and who gets to decide what counts. In an industry often slow to change, Reel Raven is proving that creativity doesn’t need permission to thrive.