World-Renowned Illustrator Ruby Jones Opens Her First Public Exhibition, Tūhura Otago Museum, November 2025
Dunedin is set to welcome illustrator Ruby Jones back home for a special exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum. Soft Lines: Illustrating Empathy with Ruby Jones opens on Saturday, 13 December, and will feature immersive, floor-to-ceiling projections of her iconic illustrations, personal collections from her childhood, and interactive spaces designed to spark creativity and reflection. The exhibition is free to the public and promises to be both a visual feast and a deeply moving experience.
Ruby Jones, whose work has been celebrated worldwide, first captured international attention following the 2019 Christchurch Mosque attacks with a poignant illustration of two women embracing, accompanied by the words: “This is your home and you should have been safe here.” The image went viral, appearing in major international publications including BuzzFeed, The Guardian, and Time magazine, cementing her reputation as an artist whose work speaks powerfully to empathy, connection, and humanity.
Behind her globally recognised style lies a deeply personal story. Born with congenital cataracts, Jones experienced a retinal detachment at just 18 months old, requiring emergency surgery in Christchurch. Throughout her childhood, she underwent numerous additional surgeries to preserve what remained of her vision. The experience left a lasting imprint on her life and art, sharpening her awareness of the world around her and deepening her appreciation for colour, shape, and visual storytelling, sparking a lifelong passion for creating work that helps people feel seen and understood.
Since then, Jones has released her first international best-seller, All Of This Is For You, and recently illustrated former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s debut children’s book, Mum’s Busy Work, which celebrates the relationship between working mothers and their children. Her illustrations continue to resonate across the globe, exploring themes of love, mental health, identity, and belonging with striking sensitivity and heart.
Born in Dunedin, and a former student of St Clair Primary and Queen’s High School, Jones’s return for this exhibition reflects both her international success and her strong local roots.
Tūhura Marketing Manager Charlie Buchan said “Ruby’s illustrations and words are deceptively simple, yet they carry enormous weight. They capture horrors of the world, impacts of war, and inequity in a way that’s digestible, while still leaving you with hope for a brighter future. With everything happening in our country and world right now, her work resonates more than ever. We can’t wait for visitors to experience its depth and power for themselves.”
Exhibition designer Shanaya Cunningham added, “This exhibition is a special chance for the public to see not only Ruby’s internationally recognised work but also the personal stories and early influences behind it. She’s even created original pieces celebrating Dunedin, giving the exhibition a lovely local connection.”
Jones said, “Dunedin will always be home. Revisiting childhood keepsakes, sharing my early drawings, and returning to St Clair Primary to run workshops with the kids has been a full-circle moment for me. As part of the exhibition, some of the students will be featured, giving visitors a glimpse into this special collaboration.”
Free Associated Events:
Q & A with Ruby Jones | 6.30pm, Friday 12 December
Card-Making Workshop with Ruby Jones | 11am, Saturday 13 December
13 December 2025 – 29 March 2026
Beautiful Science Gallery
Free entry