Abstract art is now a mainstay in art scenes all around the world, however there was a time that non-figurative art was met with a chilly reception in Australia. Head down to the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and you’ll be transported back to precisely that moment.
Grace Crowley and Ralph Balson is an exhibition showcasing the two foremost pioneers of abstract art in Australia – a pair who heavily influenced one another and worked together exclusively for decades. In what is the first exhibition ever to explore this longstanding creative partnership, you’re invited to follow the pair’s journey from figuration into pure abstraction, and the major role they each played in shaping Australia’s modern art movement.
After studying amongst cubists in Paris, Australian-born Crowley returned to Sydney and set about disseminating modernist principles, setting a cat amongst the pigeons of the early 20th century art world. She originally encountered Balson, a self-taught English artist and trained plumber, as his teacher, before they both participated in Australia’s first-ever abstract exhibition. They went on to form a prolific partnership, the fruits of which you can now explore for free at the NGV until September 22, including some works never before seen by the Australian public.
Find out more about the Grace Crowley and Ralph Balson exhibition at the NGV website.
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