Know My Abstraction
Virginia Cuppaidge
Belinda Street
Lezlie Tilley
Patricia Wilson-Adams
Inspired by the National Gallery of Australia’s 2019 ‘Know My Name’ initiative, a project that has effectively redressed many of the silent, unknown histories of women painters in Australia, this exhibition features the work of four Newcastle based abstract artists.
‘Know My Abstraction’ highlights their unique approaches to abstraction, all rooted in the Australian landscape. Each artist brings a distinct aesthetic: Cuppaidge’s atmospheric minimalism, Street’s expressive gestures, Tilley’s geometric process, and Wilson-Adams’ eccentric abstraction.
Although progress has been made in public institutions, women artists continue to be underrepresented in major collections and exhibitions. This exhibition addresses that ongoing disparity by highlighting the diverse and accomplished practices of women whose work spans decades and continents—work that has received awards and recognition, yet remains overlooked within the broader art historical narrative.
‘Know My Abstraction’ brings together exemplars working in abstraction through their evolving and multifaceted practices—a call to know their names, know their abstraction.
IMAGE: Belinda Street Know My Abstraction, 2025, digital image, variable
BACKGROUND IMAGE: Virginia Cuppaidge Lyon, 1972, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 198.5 x 306 cm (stretched), National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of the artist 2012
Event Information
- Date: 19 July – 06 September 2025
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.