Her Own Path- Norah Gurdon (1995-1973)
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Join us as we celebrate the fifth and last in our series of artists from the early 20th century who were among the first professional women artists to emerge in Australia.
Norah Gurdon (1995-1973)Norah lived at ‘Elmhurst’ in Church Street, Brighton as a child.
She studied at National Gallery school 1901-1908 with Jessie Traill and Janet Cumbrae Stewart and went to England in 1914 to continue to study however at the outbreak of war she joined the VAD as a nurse at Le Croisic, France. She painted while she was in Europe after the war and returned to Australia in 1920 where she exhibited her European paintings.
In the 1920s she purchased land in the Dandenongs which is where she built her own property and studio. This would have been remarkable for a single woman to do this at the time.
Norah was known mainly as an impressionist landscape painter, and many of her paintings were executed at her home at Kalorama and depict the Yarra Valley and distance views from the Dandenongs.
She regularly exhibited in Melbourne in the 1920s and 30s and was given a lot of praise in the press.
Find out more about Norah Gurdon including an incredible photo album.
You will be able to see the works and insights into the lives of these remarkable women in Her Own Path, Bayside Gallery from 13 March - 9 May 2021.
Photograph of Norah Gurdon (left) with Constance Jenkins (second from left) and Jessie Traill (seated far right). Private Collection, Melbourne.