Grace Crowley
Encyclopedia
Grace Crowley (1890-1979) was an Australian artist
and modernist painter.
. She was the fourth child of Henry, a grazier, and Elizabeth (nee Bridger). At about the age of 13 Crowley's parents sent one of her pen and ink drawings to New Idea
magazine and she won a prize, but her career as an artist was not wholeheartedly supported, sometimes even actively opposed, by her family.
in 1927 with the Cubist André Lhote
, and took part in Exhibition I in 1939, the self-proclaimed first show of abstract art in Australia
. Others in her circle included Ralph Balsom, Dorrit Black, Rah Fizelle, Frank Hinder
and her best friend, ceramicist
Anne Dangar.
There was an exhibition of her work at the National Gallery of Australia
in December 2006 to May 2007 called Grace Crowley - Being modern.
on April 21 in 1979 aged 89. She left a body of work comprising 25 paintings and 12 drawings.
Art of Australia
Australian art incorporates art made in Australia or about Australian subjects since prehistoric times. This includes Australian Aboriginal art, Australian Colonial art, Landscape, Atelier, Modernist and Contemporary art. The visual arts have a long history in Australia, with evidence of Aboriginal...
and modernist painter.
Early life
She was born Grace Adela Williams Crowley in 1890 on May 28, at Forrest Lodge, Cobbadah, in North-Western New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. She was the fourth child of Henry, a grazier, and Elizabeth (nee Bridger). At about the age of 13 Crowley's parents sent one of her pen and ink drawings to New Idea
New Idea
New Idea is a long-running Australian weekly magazine published by Pacific Magazines and aimed at women.-History:The magazine was first published in 1902 by Fitchett Bros. Southdown Magazines purchased Fitchett Bros...
magazine and she won a prize, but her career as an artist was not wholeheartedly supported, sometimes even actively opposed, by her family.
Career
Crowley studied in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1927 with the Cubist André Lhote
André Lhote
André Lhote was a French sculptor and painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscapes and still life. He was also very active and influential as a teacher and writer on art....
, and took part in Exhibition I in 1939, the self-proclaimed first show of abstract art in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Others in her circle included Ralph Balsom, Dorrit Black, Rah Fizelle, Frank Hinder
Frank Hinder
Francis Henry Critchley Hinder was an award winning Australian painter, sculptor and art teacher who is also known for his camouflage designs in World War II.-Education:Frank Hinder was born in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1906...
and her best friend, ceramicist
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
Anne Dangar.
There was an exhibition of her work at the National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
in December 2006 to May 2007 called Grace Crowley - Being modern.
Death
Crowley died at her home in Manly, New South WalesManly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
on April 21 in 1979 aged 89. She left a body of work comprising 25 paintings and 12 drawings.
External links
- Helen Topliss ed, Earth Fire Water Air: Anne Dangar's Letters to Grace Crowley 1930-1951 Review by Jody Fitzhardinge, Curtin University, September 2001
- Dorrit Black's Modern Art Centre (extract) by Sarah Thomas, Art & Australia, Spring 2006.
- Grace Crowely at Australian Art