“Dangerously Modern”: Rediscovering the Pioneering Australian Women Artists Who Defied Convention

27 May 2025

Hilda Rix Nicholas’s 1926 painting Une Australienne, one of the works featured in Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940 at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Photograph: Bronwyn Wright/National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

A groundbreaking exhibition titled Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940 is currently on display at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) in Adelaide, running until September 7, 2025. The exhibition will then move to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) in Sydney from October 11, 2025, to February 1, 2026. This collaborative effort between AGSA and AGNSW brings to light the stories of 50 trailblazing Australian and New Zealand-born women artists who ventured to Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking artistic freedom and recognition in the cultural hubs of Paris and London.

Curated by Elle Freak, Tracey Lock, and Wayne Tunnicliffe, Dangerously Modern delves into the lives and works of women who defied the artistic and societal norms of their time. These artists embraced modernist styles and often explored themes considered controversial, such as queer identities, cross-cultural encounters, and intimate domestic scenes. Their art was not only a form of personal expression but also a subtle act of resistance against the conservative expectations imposed upon them.

While the exhibition features renowned figures like Nora Heysen and Margaret Preston, it also shines a spotlight on lesser-known artists whose contributions have been historically overlooked. Justine Kong Sing, a Chinese-Australian painter born in Nundle, New South Wales, is one such artist. After studying at the Westminster School of Art, Kong Sing gained prominence in Edwardian London for her delicate miniature portraits, including a self-portrait titled Me (1912), which captures her poised and introspective gaze beneath a green hat.

The exhibition does not shy away from the harsh realities these women faced upon returning to Australia. Many encountered a conservative art scene that dismissed or actively suppressed their work. In some cases, their art was destroyed by disapproving family members. Edith Collier, for example, had her nude studies burned by her father, who deemed them inappropriate. Similarly, Clarice Beckett's ethereal landscapes were largely ignored during her lifetime, and many of her works were destroyed after her death, only to be rediscovered decades later.

Dangerously Modern serves as a reclamation of these artists' rightful place in art history. By presenting their works and stories, the exhibition challenges the traditional narratives that have long excluded or marginalized women artists. It invites viewers to appreciate the depth and diversity of their contributions and to acknowledge the systemic barriers they overcame.

Exhibition Details:

Adelaide: Art Gallery of South Australia, until September 7, 2025

Sydney: Art Gallery of New South Wales, October 11, 2025 – February 1, 2026