Image details: Rosalie Gascoigne
born New Zealand 1917, arrived Australia 1943, died 1999
Checkerboard 1990
reflective synthetic polymer film on wood
123.0 x 102.0 cm
Private collection, Canberra
© Rosalie Gascoigne Estate administered by VISCOPY, Australia

Rosalie Gascoigne retrospective*

The National Gallery of Victoria next Friday (19 Dec) will open a major retrospective of the work of one of Australia’s most accomplished artists, Rosalie Gascoigne (1917-1999). It will be the first major survey of Gascoigne’s work to be seen in Melbourne and will run in the gallery's Ian Potter Centre until 15 March.

Rosalie Gascoigne will present more than 80 works ranging from early-career box-like assemblages such as The Colonel’s Lady through to the large-scale installations and works constructed from retro-reflective road signs, including Checkerboard and Sweet Sorrow.

Kelly Gellatly, Curator, Contemporary Art, NGV, said Rosalie Gascoigne had an amazing ability to find beauty in ordinary things:

“This retrospective will investigate Gascoigne’s ability to draw creative inspiration from the discarded; her intrinsic response to her chosen materials and her unique ability to convey the essence of nature and the captivating effects of light, air and space.”

“Each work is a reflection of Gascoigne’s innate knowledge of the country in which she travelled and fossicked over a period of some fifty years."

Rosalie Gascoigne came to art relatively late in life, first exhibiting her work in 1974 at the age of 57. She went on to quickly establish a reputation as one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, exhibiting extensively both in Australia and overseas.

In 1982 Gascoigne became the first female artist to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale. She exhibited numerous times at the Sydney Biennale and in 1994 was honoured with an Order of Australia for her services to the arts.

Frances Lindsay, Deputy Director, NGV, said this important retrospective was a tribute to an exceptional artist.

“Rosalie Gascoigne captured the poetry of the Australian landscape like no other artist of her time. We are thrilled to be holding the first Melbourne retrospective of her work,” she said.

*Based on media release issued by the The National Gallery of Victoria.