Now You See Me | Endo Warriors Aotearoa

Now You See Me

The Endometriosis Empowerment Project.

About the Event

Now You See Me – The Endometriosis Empowerment Project is a photographic exhibition amplifying the lived experiences of people with endometriosis in Aotearoa. Through powerful portraiture and personal storytelling, the exhibition brings visibility to a condition that is often invisible, misunderstood, and under recognised.

Now You See Me centres diverse bodies, genders, and identities, reflecting the reality that endometriosis affects people beyond narrow stereotypes. The exhibition invites the community to build understanding, empathy, and connection by standing face to face with stories that are too often unseen.

The exhibition is delivered in collaboration with Ainsley DS Creative and Endo Warriors Aotearoa and is guided by manaakitanga, inclusivity, and lived experience leadership.

Dates: 8–13 September 2026
Opening Night Celebration: 7 September 2026 (invitation only)
Opening Hours: TBA
Venue: Thistle Hall Community Gallery, 293 Cuba Street, Wellington
Entry: Free/Koha and open to the public

Content Information

This exhibition explores the lived experiences of people with endometriosis and includes themes of chronic illness, pain, surgery, infertility, menstrual health, and healthcare experiences.

Some photographic works may include images of surgical scars, medical devices, and partial nudity presented in a respectful, artistic, and educational context.

Accessibility

Accessibility is a core part of this exhibition. Measures include accessible exhibition guides, clear signage, inclusive design, seating options, and scheduled low sensory viewing times.

Further accessibility information, including opening hours and details of low sensory viewing times, will be shared closer to the event on this webpage and across our social media channels. We will also post updates about venue access, layout, and available supports so visitors can plan their visit in a way that feels safe and comfortable for them.

All are welcome to attend, learn, reflect, and stand in solidarity with those living with endometriosis.

Meet the Photographer

Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith is an empowerment portrait photographer, visual storyteller, and health advocate whose work sits at the intersection of art, advocacy, and community care.

With over a decade of experience through Ainsley DS Creative, Ainsley creates powerful, human-centred imagery that challenges dominant narratives around health, identity, and lived experience. Her work is grounded in relationship, trust, and manaakitanga, creating spaces where people feel seen, respected, and valued.

Living with endometriosis herself, Ainsley created Now You See Me from a desire to make the invisible visible. Through portraiture and storytelling, the exhibition highlights the diverse realities of living with endometriosis and challenges the narrow ways the condition is often represented.

A collaboration between Ainsley DS Creative and Endo Warriors Aotearoa, Now You See Me uses photography as a tool for connection, education, and advocacy, helping ensure the stories of people living with endometriosis are seen, heard, and valued.

School Group Visits

Secondary schools are invited to book dedicated exhibition visits during exhibition week.

These sessions provide students with the opportunity to explore the exhibition and hear directly from photographer Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith about portrait photography, storytelling, advocacy, and the creative process behind Now You See Me.

Sessions are approximately 60 minutes and include:

• Guided exhibition viewing

• Talk from photographer Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith

• Discussion around storytelling, photography, and social change

• Question and answer opportunities

School Visit Information

• Available 8–12 September 2026

• One class per session

• Maximum 40 students

• Free to attend

• At least one teacher or responsible adult must accompany and supervise students throughout the visit

School bookings are now open.

Support the Exhibition

Now You See Me is made possible through community support, partnerships, and fundraising.

As a charity-led exhibition, we are currently seeking organisations and businesses who share our commitment to education, awareness, inclusion, and lived experience leadership.

We are currently seeking:

Exclusive Exhibition Partner – Wellington

Our Exclusive Exhibition Partner receives naming rights recognition and prominent acknowledgement across exhibition signage, advertising, promotional materials, social media, media activity, school engagement activities, and opening night acknowledgements.

Community Supporters

Community Supporters help bring the exhibition to life through financial contributions, approved in-kind support, services, equipment, accessibility support, catering, promotion, and other practical assistance.

We welcome support from businesses, organisations, and community partners who want to help create an accessible, inclusive, and meaningful exhibition experience for the Wellington community.

If you are interested in supporting Now You See Me, we would love to hear from you. For partnership enquiries, please contact:

Yessenia Sandoval, Founder and Charity Director Endo Warriors Aotearoa

Partnership Enquiries

Thank You to Our Opening Night Supporters

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible businesses supporting the Opening Night of Now You See Me – The Endometriosis Empowerment Project. Your generosity, belief in this kaupapa, and willingness to stand alongside our community mean more than words can express. Through your support, we are able to create a welcoming and meaningful space where stories are honoured, voices are amplified, and the realities of endometriosis in Aotearoa are made visible.

This exhibition is made possible through community. It exists because businesses choose to support lived experience, advocacy, education, and awareness. Your contribution helps ensure our Opening Night reflects manaakitanga, connection, inclusion, and care.

Thank you for helping bring Now You See Me to life.

Opening Night Supporters

Thank you to NO Ugly for supporting our Opening Night Celebration. Their commitment to wellbeing and helping people feel their best aligns strongly with the values of connection, care, and community that sit at the heart of Now You See Me

NO UGLY.

Thank you to Better Tea Co for supporting our Opening Night Celebration. Their generosity helps us create a warm and welcoming environment that reflects the manaakitanga and community spirit of this exhibition.

Better Tea Co

Thank you to TERPS & CO for supporting our Opening Night Celebration. Their support helps us create a welcoming and inclusive space where important stories can be shared, heard, and valued.

Terps&Co

Community Supporters

We are grateful to the businesses and organisations supporting the delivery of Now You See Me – The Endometriosis Empowerment Project. Community Supporters help make the exhibition possible through financial contributions, in-kind support, products and services, equipment, accessibility resources, and operational support. Their generosity helps us create an accessible, welcoming, and meaningful exhibition experience for the Wellington community.

Thank You To

Tap Health: Supporting the exhibition through community partnership and helping improve access to products that may support people living with endometriosis and persistent pain.

Fujifilm GFX: Supporting the exhibition through photography and imaging support, helping bring participant stories and portraits to life.

Els Lovers: Supporting the exhibition through a values-aligned partnership that helps strengthen community connection and support for people living with endometriosis.

Endosoothe: Supporting the exhibition through a community partnership focused on supporting the wellbeing of people living with endometriosis.

Hiremaster Wellington: Supporting the exhibition through practical event and equipment support, helping us create a welcoming and professional exhibition experience.

LUMO Digital: Supporting the exhibition through digital billboard advertising, helping us bring endometriosis awareness into public spaces and ensure the stories shared through Now You See Me are seen by more people across the Wellington community.

Phantom Billstickers: Supporting the exhibition through poster advertising across Wellington, helping bring Now You See Me into public spaces and ensuring more people have the opportunity to see, connect with, and learn from the lived experiences shared through the project.