As the country’s best horses and jockeys get geared up for Auckland Cup Week and racing’s ultimate titles, 18 life-size white horses have been transformed into exquisite works of art by 18 interesting kiwis as part of the Resene Fastest Art Exhibition. This journey replicates that of 18 thoroughbred horses in the $2.2 million Telecom New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie; with each horse having spent the past few months racing against other talented horses in a bid to qualify for a starting spot in New Zealand’s richest race on March 5th 2011.

All of the art pieces are being auctioned off on TradeMe, with the proceeds going to New Zealand Charities.

The horses will be on display on the Te Ara Tahuhu walking street in Britomart on Monday 21st February for one day only.

Below is a list of the artists and their chosen charities

Mayor Len Brown                                 Kidz First Children's Hospital
Amanda Billing                                    Child Cancer Foundation
Billy Apple                                           NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust
Blues                                                  Men's Health
DDB                                                    Ronald McDonald House Charity
Jay and Flynny - ZMFM                         The Heart Foundation
Josh Emett                                          Melanoma Foundation of NZ
Karen Walker / Moselle Panel & Paint    Breast Cancer Research Trust
Kids of 88                                            Play it Strange
Lindy Leuschke                                    SPCA
Lucy Lawless                                       Starship Foundation
Marc Ellis                                            The Catwalk Spinal Injury Trust
Oscar Kightly                                       Auckland City Mission
Sir Peter Leitch - The Mad Butcher        Allergy New Zealand
Ra Vincent                                          Make-A-Wish New Zealand
Saatchi and Saatchi                             Turn Your Life Around
Sara Tetro                                           Canteen
The Vodafone Warriors                         Variety