Unruly Minds, Unforgettable Art: The Women of Dangerously Modern

“They didn’t ask permission; they packed their palettes, crossed oceans, and changed everything. Now we celebrate.”

Step into Dangerously Modern at the Art Gallery of South Australia, and you step into the minds of some of history’s boldest creative thinkers, forging radically new paths in the early 20th century.

At a time when society expected women to remain confined to domestic life, these artists crossed oceans and broke conventions with colour, form, and fierce intellect. Many were not only widely travelled but radically curious, absorbing ideas from Parisian salons, Moroccan streets, and London studios, and returning to Australia with a modernist spirit all their own.

Their legacy? A powerful reminder that true creative thinking often begins at the edge of discomfort; where ideas are fresh, unruly, and brave.

While others painted what they saw, these women painted what they felt, influenced by Cubism, abstraction, and a belief that art didn’t need to mirror reality. After all, why paint the world as it looks, when photography could do that?

Artists like Grace Crowley, Thea Proctor, and Margaret Preston didn’t follow trends from Europe — they helped shape a new visual language at home. Their work introduced Australians to Cubism, Post-Impressionism, and Deco-infused design.

For every boundary-pusher and every creative soul who craves the new: this is your kindred spirit exhibition.

Highly recommended.

About (some of the) the Artists

Grace Crowley was a pioneer of geometric abstraction and played a key role in bringing modernist ideas to Sydney after studying in Paris. Through her teaching and partnership with Ralph Balson, she helped establish abstract painting in Australia, influencing a new generation of artists.

Thea Proctor championed modernism in the 1920s, promoting fresh artistic ideas through her works, teaching, and widely read publications. Her innovations in printmaking and design helped reshape the visual culture of her time.

Margaret Preston brought bold colours, striking design principles, and international influences — particularly from Japanese and European art — to the Australian modernist movement. A revivalist of printmaking and passionate advocate for a distinct national style, she left a lasting imprint on both the art world and Australia’s cultural identity.