Margery Edwards facts for kids

Margery Edwards (1933–1989) was an Australian artist. She was known for her unique style of abstract painting and collage. Her art often explored deep feelings and spiritual ideas.

Margery Edwards: An Artist's Journey

Early Life and Studies

Margery Edwards was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, in 1933. She studied art in several famous cities around the world. She went to Sydney, Australia, and then to the Brera Academy of Art in Milan, Italy. Later, she studied at Morley College Art School in London, England. In 1974, she moved to New York City, USA.

Discovering Abstract Expressionism

In New York, Margery Edwards found her special way of painting. This style was called Abstract Expressionism. It was a very popular art movement in America during the 1940s and 1950s. Abstract Expressionism was all about showing the artist's feelings and inner world. It focused on freedom and expressing what was inside, rather than showing things from the outside world.

Abstract Expressionism had two main types of styles. Margery Edwards used ideas from both in her work. One style used strong, energetic brushstrokes and lively designs. Artists like Jackson Pollock and Robert Motherwell were known for this. The other style was calmer and more thoughtful. It used soft color mixes, often dark, with simple shapes. Artists like Mark Rothko showed this quieter side.

The Meaning Behind Her Art

Edwards wanted people to understand her art in their own way. This is why she gave her paintings simple titles. She used the letters 'NY' (for New York) and a number, instead of a descriptive name.

In 1978, she first showed a series of black paintings in New York. In her notes from 1983, Edwards explained why black was important. She said black helps guide the viewer into a spiritual place. It helps us see the hidden, mysterious side of life. She felt that a black surface made viewers look closely for small details. Some of these details created an illusion of depth. This means some parts seemed to go back, and others seemed to come forward. She believed this could relate to different levels of human thought. She wrote that if a painter creates enough depth, you can feel like you are passing through an open door. This can lead to a feeling of being connected or completely free.

Later Works and New Colors

In the early 1980s, Edwards' paintings began to feature strong vertical and horizontal lines. These lines appeared on canvases with lots of texture. The physical look of these works was very powerful. They also had shapes that reminded people of nature and city scenes. For example, lines might look like tree trunks, horizons, or rivers. People also noticed that the rough, industrial-looking surfaces of her paintings reflected her life. She had renovated old, dirty commercial spaces in New York's SoHo and TriBeCa areas.

By 1985, Edwards started to mix deep colors into her black paint. She used colors like ochre (a yellowish-brown), earthy reds, and deep blues. A curator named Jeanne Wilkinson wrote about these paintings. She said they showed darkness as a constant part of the world. This darkness was not empty. Instead, it was full of a mysterious presence. It was like an origin, not just a lack of light.

Collages and Visual Diaries

Works on paper were also very important to Edwards. She was always making collages, prints, and visual diaries. These diaries were like a record of her ideas. They echoed her experiences and the places she saw, just like her paintings. Sometimes, these paper works were lighter and more humorous. They offered a contrast to her darker, more intense paintings.

Legacy

When Margery Edwards passed away in 1989, she had created many artworks. These pieces showed a journey that was both earthly and spiritual. In her own words, it was "a progression through darkness and light."

Edwards' artworks are held in major art galleries around the world. You can find her pieces at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia. Her work is also at the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Minneapolis Institute of Art also has her art.