South Canterbury-based Pardington, whose practice spans more than four decades, is represented exclusively by Starkwhite Queenstown and its sister Auckland gallery.
Local Starkwhite director Kelly Carmichael says the Venice Biennale — running from April to November next year — is "the equivalent of going to the Olympics".
"Being selected for a national pavilion is one of the highest honours a country can bestow upon an artist."
Pardington, who descends from three Maori iwi, including Ngai Tahu, and a Scottish clan, has two distinct strands to her photography, Carmichael explains.
"One is still life, where you see the arrangement of objects, and the other is photographing taonga — native birds are part of that, but she’s also photographed pounamu."
Carmichael says her gallery usually exhibits at least two of her works at any one time, aside from specific exhibitions.
"And when she gives a talk it’s probably the biggest attendance we ever have."
