Redfern Art Gallery | Underrated and undervalued

Underrated and undervalued

Modern Australian Women Artists in the mid-1900s

Being a female artist in the mid-1900s was challenging. Female artists did not get the same opportunities and recognition as male artists. Access to teaching and mentoring was limited; opportunities to travel and study overseas few and far between and in some cases frowned upon. The overarching view was that a woman’s place was minding the home and looking after her husband and children. There are some stand out successes from this period – Grace Cossington Smith, Margaret Olley, Margaret Preston, Grace Crowley, Dorrit Black, Anne Dangar, Clarice Beckett, Joy Hester, Lina Bryans and others who are well represented in Australian public galleries and their works now fetch high prices on auction. But there are also a number of female artists who were very talented and produced excellent work who haven’t received the full recognition they deserve. These include Margo Lewers, Judy Cassab, Ena Joyce, Shay Docking, Phyl Waterhouse, Jean Isherwood, Dora Toovey, Joan Beck and Sheila McDonald among others. In this exhibition we focus on the paintings of these latter artists whose paintings mostly date from the period 1950 – 1980.

Summer fruit by Phyl Waterhouse

Summer fruit - Phyl Waterhouse

Untitled 1958 by Shay Docking

Untitled 1958 - Shay Docking

Street in Gulgong by Jean Isherwood

Street in Gulgong - Jean Isherwood

Mines and Docks 1964 by Shay Docking

Mines and Docks 1964 - Shay Docking

Portait of Claire Dan 1968 by Judy Cassab

Portait of Claire Dan 1968 - Judy Cassab

Blue Windows by Sheila McDonald

Blue Windows - Sheila McDonald

Mouth of the Fitzgerald River near Jerramungup by Phyl Waterhouse

Mouth of the Fitzgerald River near Jerramungup - Phyl Waterhouse

Untitled 1938 by Jean Isherwood

Untitled 1938 - Jean Isherwood

Still Life by Phyl Waterhouse

Still Life - Phyl Waterhouse

Untitled by Jean Isherwood

Untitled - Jean Isherwood

Untitled (North Queensland) 1974 by Judy Cassab

Untitled (North Queensland) 1974 - Judy Cassab

After the Rain 1968 by Eva Kubbos

After the Rain 1968 - Eva Kubbos

Untitled by Ann Thomson

Untitled - Ann Thomson

Etude by Itka Indyk

Etude - Itka Indyk

Marmalade by Ena Joyce

Marmalade - Ena Joyce

Street Scene by Judy Cassab

Street Scene - Judy Cassab

The Landing, Albert Park by Phyl Waterhouse

The Landing, Albert Park - Phyl Waterhouse

Fiesole (with Cathedral Tower) by Ena Joyce

Fiesole (with Cathedral Tower) - Ena Joyce

A Hunters Hill Lodge by Dorothy Atkins

A Hunters Hill Lodge - Dorothy Atkins

Morning light Wooloomooloo from Forbes Street by Dora Toovey

Morning light Wooloomooloo from Forbes Street - Dora Toovey

Afternoon Towoon Bay 1969 by Dora Toovey

Afternoon Towoon Bay 1969 - Dora Toovey

Windsor Church by Ena Joyce

Windsor Church - Ena Joyce

Untitled by Joan Beck

Untitled - Joan Beck

Beachscape by Judy Cassab

Beachscape - Judy Cassab

Requiem for a Tasmanian Forest by Jean Isherwood

Requiem for a Tasmanian Forest - Jean Isherwood

Untitled by Joan Beck

Untitled - Joan Beck

Flower Garden 1973 by Judy Cassab

Flower Garden 1973 - Judy Cassab

Untitled 1975 by Judy Cassab

Untitled 1975 - Judy Cassab

Still Life by Judy Cassab

Still Life - Judy Cassab

Greek Island 1969 by Judy Cassab

Greek Island 1969 - Judy Cassab

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