Velasquez Gallery facts for kids

Velasquez Gallery, also known as Tye's Art Gallery, was a special place in Melbourne, Australia. It was an art gallery that showed many different kinds of Australian art. This included modern art, traditional art, sculptures, prints, and art by Australia's Indigenous people. The gallery was open from 1940 to 1955.

What Was the Velasquez Gallery?

The Velasquez Gallery was located in the basement of Tye's Furniture Building at 100 Bourke Street in Melbourne. In the 1940s, there weren't many places to see art in Melbourne, so this gallery was very important.

When Did the Gallery Open?

The gallery first opened its doors on June 4, 1940, right in the middle of World War II. Its very first show featured paintings by Max Meldrum, a famous Australian artist known for his "Tonalism" style. This style focuses on using soft colors and light to create a mood.

Who Ran the Gallery?

The gallery was managed by Stephanie Taylor (1899–1974). She was a painter, printmaker, writer about art, and a speaker. The director was George Page-Cooper (c.1895-1967), who was a big art collector.

What Kind of Art Did They Show?

The Velasquez Gallery showed a wide range of art. They displayed both traditional and modern Australian art. This included paintings, sculptures, and prints. They also featured art by Indigenous Australians.

A Place for Modern Art

The gallery was open to new and different art styles. In 1948, they showed 27 paintings from Sidney Nolan's famous "Kelly series" for the very first time. These paintings told the story of the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly.

Supporting Women Artists

Stephanie Taylor made sure that women artists had a much better chance to show their work at Velasquez Gallery than at other galleries. She also organized many art shows to raise money for charities. People at the time saw the gallery as a place that welcomed new ideas in art.

Why Did the Gallery Close?

George Page-Cooper, one of the gallery's directors, left in 1952. He had plans to open another gallery, but it never happened. The Velasquez Gallery itself closed in early 1955.

A Sad Farewell

Stephanie Taylor wrote to The Age newspaper about the closing. She said that many art lovers would miss Tye's Art Gallery and its wonderful exhibitions. She also wished there were more people willing to support art and culture in the city.

Important Art Shows

The Velasquez Gallery hosted many interesting exhibitions over the years. Here are some of them:

Early Exhibitions (1940s)

• 1940: Paintings by A.M.E. Bale.
• 1941: An exhibition to help the Red Cross.
• 1941: Clay sculptures about Aboriginal folk-lore by William Ricketts.
• 1943: A Red Cross fundraising show with works by famous artists like Rupert Bunny and Arthur Streeton.
• 1943: An exhibition by the Contemporary Art Society.
• 1945: The first yearly exhibition, featuring many artists like Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker.
• 1945: A show of Aboriginal arts and crafts.
• 1945: "Contemporary Child Art" to help Red Cross Funds.
• 1948: Sidney Nolan's Kelly paintings.

Later Exhibitions (Late 1940s - 1950s)

By the late 1940s, the gallery was often called 'Tye’s Gallery'.

• 1948: Paintings of horses to help the Ada Mary A'Beckett Free Kindergarten.
• 1949: Paintings by official R.A.A.F. (Royal Australian Air Force) and War Memorial artists.
• 1950: A British Council exhibition of prints and photographs.
• 1952: A Children's Art Exhibition, which even included work by Germaine Greer when she was under 14!
• 1954: A special exhibition by the Contemporary Art Society, featuring 86 artists including Mirka Mora.
• 1954: "Artists for Peace" exhibition.