Virginia Cuppaidge artworks from the University Collection at Newcastle Art Gallery

Friday, 17 May 2019

The University of Newcastle Collection has a large archive of incredible artworks and artefacts. The stunning paintings Chrysalis Beginning 1989, and Skyspace 1981, by Virginia Cuppaidge, are two large scale works by the artist in the collection, currently on exhibition as part of Virginia Cuppaidge: the nature of abstraction at at Newcastle Art Gallery, 11 May - 21 July 2019.

Virginia Cuppaidge: the nature of abstraction is a survey of the last forty years of work by the artist. It is a rare opportunity to see the works from the University Collection in the context of the artist's wider practice. From the Newcastle Art Gallery website:

Virginia Cuppaidge is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost Abstract painters. Her connections with Newcastle have been enduring and with this the recent donation of the geometric painting Saix 1974 to the Newcastle Art Gallery collection in 2018.

The exhibition is a survey of the last forty plus years work by the artist and maps the career of the one of Australia's leading painters. The exhibition marks and celebrates Cuppaidge's return to Australia after four decades in New York. This career survey brings together works from the Newcastle Art Gallery collection, key state and national collections and the artist's own holdings from the period of 1972-2012.

Currently on display are the works:
Virginia Cuppaidge
Chrysalis Beginning 1989
acrylic paint on canvas
198 x 396 cm
Donated by Helen and Christopher Ford to the University of Newcastle Art Collection through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program in acknowledgement of Chancellor Trevor Waring
See this work in situ (NAG Facebook image)

Virginia Cuppaidge
Skyspace 1981
oil on canvas
200 x 606 cm
Donated to the University of Newcastle Art Collection through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Libby Hathorn

For more information on the exhibition, visit the NAG exhibition page
For more information on how you can donate to the University of Newcastle's collection, contact the University Gallery
gallery@newcastle.edu.au
Ph: +61 2 4921 5255


Related news