Category: Iconic Artists

  • Elizabeth Parsons (1831 – 1897)

    As a woman who possessed a fierce dedication to the arts, landscape artist Elizabeth Parsons made a significant contribution to the Australian art world during her time. Acting as a strong campaigner of the watercolour medium Parsons created many works that were often subject to critical acclaim and having held many prominent positions within the…

  • Tom Roberts (1856 – 1931)

    With a presence that has been strongly felt within the Australian arts community, Thomas William Roberts came to be highly regarded as one of the chief instigators behind furthering the standard of art in Australia. As a painter, draughtsman and pioneer of plein air impressionism Roberts played a key role in marking a significant point…

  • Margaret Preston (1875 – 1963)

    A pioneer in Australian art and design, the modernist painter, wood engraver and print maker, Margaret Preston made a profound effect on the art world with her highly decorative and stylistic works. Creating distinctive cosmopolitan still life prints, the art of Margaret Preston serves to symbolise one of Australia’s most aesthetically original historical periods. Born…

  • Lloyd Rees (1895-1988)

    One of Australia’s most highly regarded landscape artists, Lloyd Rees’ influential presence in the Australian art world has been strongly felt. With an artistic repertoire of high calibre consisting of paintings, drawings, etchings and lithographs, Rees’ landscapes came to be greatly celebrated for the way they encapsulated a deep affinity for the Australian landscape and…

  • Jane Price (1860 – 1948)

    As an active campaigner of plein air painting practices and the woman responsible for instigating the role of theosophy in Australian art, the painter Jane Price became well-known not only for her distinct Naturalist landscapes, but also for the close associations she had with the prominent male and female figures of the Heidelberg School. Born…

  • Jeffrey Smart (1921- 2013)

    With a unique perspective on life and the way he showed a talent for effectively using colour and light to transform mundane subject matter into something special, the expatriate painter, Jeffrey Smart has come to be considered a legend within the Australian art world, renowned for his modernist depictions of urban landscapes. Born in Adelaide…

  • Brett Whiteley (1939 – 1992)

    For the way his poetic mode of expressionism and artistic brashness made him a key figure of Australia’s avant-grade art movement, Brett Whiteley became one of the most well-known and respected artists of the twentieth century. Demonstrating an unusual talent for accentuation, deploying an effective colour range, and dealing with the often simple themes of…

  • Albert Tucker

    Remembered as the pioneer of modern expressionism, surrealist and symbolist painting in Australia, Albert Tucker played a pivotal role in fostering the Australian art culture and igniting international interest in the local art scene. As an artist who was described to have “not dealt in prettiness, but unsettling truths”, the often difficult and confronting work…

  • Arthur Streeton (1867 – 1943)

    Best known for his rural landscapes, Arthur Streeton’s skill in rendering distance and atmosphere, his selection of subject and the feeling he evoked of actual participation in the life of the landscape, brought him nationwide popularity and success. As one of the key founders of the renowned Heidelberg school, Streeton became one of Australia’s most…

  • Roland Wakelin (1887 – 1971)

    A pioneer of contemporary painting, Roland Shakespeare Wakelin came to be regarded as the chief instigator of the modern art movement in Australia. Having become one of the most admired painters of the 20th century Wakelin left a lasting impression on the Australian art world with his strong idealistic vision, unconventional yet intellectual methods of…