Abstraction: Celebrating Australian Women Abstract Artists

Abstraction: Celebrating Australian Women Abstract Artists takes audiences on a fascinating and unique journey from the early 20th century through to the present day, with masterworks from the NGA’s collection that are rarely on display.

This exhibition celebrates women who have led the charge early on in the field of abstract art, showing confidence, curiosity and innovation as they engaged with one of the defining movements of the 20th century. Their influences still prevail today in contemporary art practice.

On show are 74 works by 38 artists including Margaret Preston, Dorrit Black, Grace Crowley, Anne Dangar through to Inge King, Yvonne Audette, Margo Lewers, Janet Dawson and into contemporary practioners such as Virginia Cuppaidge, Elizabeth Coats, and Melinda Harper. It also traces the remarkable contribution Indigenous women have made to the development and appreciation of abstraction in Australia and includes major works by Emily Kam Kngwarray and Sally Gabori, among others.

QUT Art Museum Curator Kevin Wilson said, “This exhibition is a timely reminder of the role of women in the development of abstract painting, at a time when major art institutions have a tendency to applaud male artists.”

“The exhibition also reinforces QUT Art Museum’s commitment to supporting women in art, through representation in group shows or through our series of survey shows of key Australian female artists” said Wilson.

This exhibition charts the development of abstraction in Australian art, which originally evolved from European Cubism and avant- garde art practices in Paris and London, through to the breakthroughs of the New York School in terms of Abstract Expressionism, Hard Edge abstraction and Minimalism. Moreover, the breadth of works show that, today, abstraction remains a compelling force in contemporary practice.

Nice to know -  Abstraction: Celebrating Australian Women Abstract Artists is toured by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). The national tour of this exhibition has been made possible through the generous support of the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.

Need to know - Opening day is Sat June 16th from 2-4pm, preceded by a free Curator's floortalk from 1.30-2pm. BOOK HERE

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