Michelangelo — A Different View

There’s no need to look up to see true greatness. The intricate beauty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling will be on full display at Tākina over summer. Michelangelo — A Different View invites you to experience the genius of the sixteenth-century artist from an entirely new perspective. You get to be above and up close. 

Under license from the Vatican Museums, this exhibition offers a complete and authentic reproduction of over 50 stunning works. This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition allows you to experience the colour and detail of multiple works from just two meters away. 

The Genesis, painted onto the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling between 1508 and 1512, is the most famous of the reproductions on display. Over 20,000 people queue daily at the Vatican for a glimpse of it. At Tākina, you’ll be offered a far more intimate and comfortable viewing experience. You’ll get to look down at the fresco’s intricate detail in near life-sized proportion. 

Guided audio is available, allowing you to deep dive into Michelangelo’s background and the history of his art. There are also VIP guided tours on offer, led by theologian and aesthete Dr Christopher Longhurst. He served for 17 years as an operatore didattico (educational operator) at the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums’ Papal Art Galleries. 

Every ticket purchased is eligible to go into a draw to win a trip for two to Rome, including entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo — A Different View is presented by The Stetson Group, the team behind the record-breaking The Art of Banksy exhibition in Wellington earlier in 2025.