Under a Modern Sun: Art in Queensland 1930s–1950s

Under a Modern Sun: Art in Queensland 1930s–1950s celebrates the rich and diverse artistic landscape of Queensland during the mid-twentieth century. Bringing together works by notable Brisbane painters such as Vida Lahey and William Bustard, as well as regional artists like Kenneth Macqueen and Joe Rootsey, the exhibition highlights how these figures helped shape a distinctly modernist vision within the state. It also explores the creative exchanges between local artists and visiting figures such as Sidney Nolan and Max Dupain, whose time in Queensland deepened their engagement with its landscapes and stories.

Central to the display is the recognition of women artists – including Lahey, Daphne Mayo, Gwendolyn Grant, and Rose Simmonds – whose contributions were vital to the state’s artistic development, along with the innovative ceramicists of the Harvey School. Later works by Margaret Olley, Margaret Cilento and Jon Molvig signal a shift toward more expressive and experimental directions in Queensland art. Accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation, the exhibition offers a vivid portrait of a formative period in the state’s cultural history.