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Art Gallery of New South Wales

Dangerously Modern exhibition

When
  • Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays to Sundays, 10am to 5pm
  • Wednesdays, 10am to 10pm
  • Saturday 11 October 2025 to Sunday 15 February 2026
  • Except Thursday 25 December 2025

The Art Gallery is closed on Christmas Day, 25 December.

Explore the art and lives of 50 trailblazing women artists in the major exhibition Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940 at the Art Gallery of NSW.

★★★★★ ‘Dangerously Modern is a beautiful, thought-provoking exhibition and it pulsates with unapologetic female energy. It is must viewing’ –ArtsHub

At the turn of the 20th century, an unprecedented wave of women artists prevailed against social constraints and left Australia to pursue international professional careers.

This is the first major exhibition to focus on the vital role of these Australian women in the emergence of international modernism, including the now-famous, such as Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, as well as the still under-recognised, such as Agnes Goodsir, Justine Kong Sing and Helen Stewart.

Featuring celebrated and rediscovered paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and ceramics, _Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940 _reclaims the place of these pivotal Australian women artists, recognising their contribution to the development of European art. They brought new ideas back to Australia and played an integral, often unrecognised role in modernising our nation.

With more than 200 works, Dangerously Modern expands our understanding of modern art movements, including realism, impressionism, post-impressionism, cubism and abstraction. The works in this show challenge preexisting notions of ambition and success, and explore colour, light, form and movement.

On now at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, until 15 February 2025

Enjoy 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesday nights during Art After Hours

Contact event organiser

Art Gallery of New South Wales

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