Leadership Lessons from Forgotten Women Artists of WA
A whole generation of talented women artists from WA have been forgotten and overlooked. Too late for the art boom of the 1890s and too early for the #knowmyname movement, they remain hidden and unknown. Social norms and a male dominated industry have meant they have gone missing from our private art collections, our galleries and our art history books. This was an era of immense creativity, economic prosperity and social change. Yet if you were a women artist, you were not allowed to be more famous than your husband and any form of self-promotion was seen as in poor taste.Social norms and a male dominated industry have meant they have gone missing from our private art collections, our galleries and our art history books. This was an era of immense creativity, economic prosperity and social change. Yet if you were a women artist, you were not allowed to be more famous than your husband and any form of self-promotion was seen as in poor taste. Inspired by our natural light, unique flora, stunning landscapes and jagged seascapes, they did their best work whilst raising children, milking cows and working second and third jobs.
So, who are these women? Art Collector, author and broadcaster, Thomas Murrell will talk about Hidden Talent: Untold Stories of the Fairview Art Collection,
One of his favourites is Peppermint Grove artist Nancy Sayer (1909 – 2005 – Australian Oil Painter).
“I have four stunning oil works of hers in my collection. Her father built the first house in Peppermint Grove, Bleak House, she went to PLC and she won the first Albany Art Exhibition Award in 1963 and repeated her success 23 years later. Her distrust of self-promotion was highlighted in 1997 when she refused to attend her first solo exhibition at the Kensington Gallery in Adelaide. The headline in The Advertiser newspaper read: “No-show Nancy has better things to do” and went on to explain she preferred to take her dog to obedience school than hang out with the arty throng. Her highly resolute, stubborn, honest, authentic yet self-confident personality comes out in her still-life oil paintings,” Mr Murrell said.
“For woman artists today, your future is bright. You can communicate with your global fanbase through platforms like Instagram using #knowmyname. Keep being creative, keep doing your best work and keep letting the world know who you are,” Mr Murrell said.
About the Author and Speaker: Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, international business speaker, author, company director and art collector. He spent 12 years at the ABC as a rural reporter, Country Hour presenter, Executive Producer and Senior Media Executive running both Regional Radio and ABC Perth. His latest book Insider Secrets of International Speaking (McGraw-Hill International) is considered the bible on speaking internationally. His collection of women artists from South and Western Australia is of national significance and can be found at www.fairviewofsubiaco.com.au
For more information: Thomas Murrell 0417 984 996