16 Facts About Grace Crowley

Grace Adela Williams Crowley was an Australian artist and modernist painter.

Grace Crowley was born in May 1890 in Barraba, New South Wales.

Grace Crowley was the fourth child of Henry, a grazier, and Elizabeth.

When Grace Crowley returned to Glen Riddle, her desire to create art had diminished, partly as a result of her family's expectations of her role in the household and she quickly took on a lot of the household duties.

In 1915, Grace Crowley became a full-time student at the Sydney Art School and from 1918 to 1923 worked as Ashton's assistant.

In 1925 Grace Crowley moved to France with her friend and fellow artist Anne Dangar.

On her return to Australia, Grace Crowley was one of the most experienced Modernist artists in Australia, with a sophisticated understanding of Cubism.

Grace Crowley then went on to start her own school with Rah Fizelle, which was renamed as the Important Centre for Modern Art and was in existence for five years.

Fizelle remained at 215a George Street, Grace Crowley however set up a studio at her apartment at 227 George Street.

In 1949, Grace Crowley spent a brief period teaching a course in abstract art at East Sydney Technical College.

In 1954 with B n's retirement impending, Grace Crowley purchased a house in High Hill, Mittagong, in which she resided alongside her 227 George Street Studio.

Grace Crowley stayed at the High Hill residence until she purchased a unit in Manly.

Shortly before her 85th birthday, in 1975 the Art Gallery of New South Wales opened its doors to the first retrospective of Grace Crowley, comprising 25 paintings and 12 drawings.

Grace Crowley is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria.

Grace Crowley died at her home in Manly, New South Wales, on 21 April 1979 aged 89.

Grace Crowley left a small body of works, three of which are held permanently in the Cruthers Collection of Women's Art in the University of Western Australia.