The history of Australian art allows a unique perspective on the circuitous evolution of abstraction. The art of the First Nations demonstrates that the conceptualisation of movement through time and space, and the reduction of the narrative to the codified language of shapes and colours, date from time immemorial. The thrive towards realistic representation, illusory depth, and the coherent narrative dominated Western-European art (and transplanted to the ‘New World’) until the middle of the nineteenth century. The progress of science and philosophy and changes within the art market allowed artists a greater freedom of personal expression through form, colour, and media. Encounters with the art of First Nations were crucial to the evolution of diverse abstract art movements.

The following selection of paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and ceramics focuses on the plurality of abstract expressions in works by selected represented and stockroom artists, including John ASLANIDIS, Augustine DALL’AVA, Louise FENELEY, Josh FOLEY, Michael JOHNSON, Bruno LETI, Jorna NEWBERRY, Louis PRATT, Saxon QUINN, Llewellyn SKYE, Anthony WHITE, and Bettina WILLNER.