Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere

Geelong Gallery presents an exclusive in-focus, thematic survey of the work of Australian artist Clarice Beckett (1887–1935). This much anticipated exhibition presents key works from across Beckett’s oeuvre ranging from 1919 to the early 1930s, providing a critical representation of this enduringly enigmatic modernist artist’s atmospheric depictions of light, climate, and bayside Melbourne. Beckett’s beautiful paintings are revered for the ways in which they captured the essence of Beaumaris streetscapes and Melbourne cityscapes in varying light and weather conditions, as well as atmospheric vistas towards the waters of Port Phillip Bay.

Beckett also worked in our region, and it is these works that provide an important local context for Geelong Gallery’s presentation. For a period of six months in 1926, Beckett left the familiar environment of her coastal home in Beaumaris to visit rural Victoria. She stayed with the brother of her good friend Maud Rowe on his Western District sheep station, ‘Naringal’. It was in this new environment that she produced some of her most experimental landscapes, capturing the radiating heat of the afternoon sun, or the muted light of dusk, across wide panoramic farming country. In addition, Beckett also frequented the beaches of Anglesea as evidenced in paintings of 1929 when she joined a group of Meldrum school students on painting camps.

This exclusive Geelong Gallery exhibition brings a new perspective on the practice of this enduringly popular artist through key works from major Australian public galleries and rarely seen private collections.      

Click here to listen

Read by a voluntary Geelong Gallery Guide
This audio tour corresponds to paintings beginning at the left-side of each Gallery and continues clockwise around the room.

A Geelong Gallery exhibition

How do I get there?

Geelong Gallery is located on Johnstone Park. The entrance is at 55 Little Malop Street, in Geelong’s arts precinct.

BY FERRY

Port Phillip Ferries operates fast passenger ferry services from Docklands to Geelong daily. Geelong Gallery is a 15-minute walk through Central Geelong from Steampacket Pier.

Book your Port Phillip Ferries and Clarice Beckett—Atmosphere ticket package here:
https://www.portphillipferries.com.au/packages/clarice-beckett/

BY TRAIN

A 3-minute walk through Johnstone Park or up Fenwick Street from Geelong Railway Station.

BY CAR

60 minutes from Melbourne CBD.

BY BUS

PTV runs buses throughout the Geelong region including the Bellarine Peninsula, Golden Plains and Surf Coast. The main terminals for buses are Geelong Railway Station and the Moorabool Street Bus Interchange, between Ryrie Street and Malop Street. Both depots are a 5 minute walk to Geelong Gallery.

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