The CROW’S NEST

Oriental Bay, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand · 2021

Commissioned in 2021, Crow’s Nest is a large-scale mural paying tribute to the renowned gentlemen’s club where much of New Zealand’s political life once unfolded. At the upper left, a small additional painting of a crow perched in its nest directly references the nickname long given to the venue.

Heimler and Proc have rendered a true portrait of Bill Crow, shown here as an elegant, sharply dressed figure accompanying a glamorous companion. The composition captures the sophisticated, slightly theatrical atmosphere of the club, with rich colour, expressive line and a sense of lived history. A champagne bottle lies at their feet, hinting at celebration and the social rituals that once defined the place. The work stands as both memorial and vivid homage to a significant chapter in the city’s cultural and political story.