Margaret Preston

A definitive new survey of Margaret Preston, celebrating her luminous, vivid still lifes, masterful use of colour and her enduring influence on Australian art and design.

As one of the most influential Australian artists of the early twentieth century, Margaret Preston transformed the visual language of the nation through a practice that was both technically innovative and visually unforgettable. Her still lifes, particularly her iconic depictions of Australian native flowers, are extraordinary for their bold compositions and sophisticated use of colour. Banksias, waratahs and gum blossoms become  powerful design elements in her hands: rhythmic, graphic and unmistakably modern.