Vida Lahey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vida Lahey
|
|
|---|---|
Vida Lahey circa 1924 Queensland
|
|
| Born |
Frances Vida Lahey
26 August 1882 |
| Died | 29 August 1968 (aged 86) Wonga Wallen St Lucia Queensland
|
| Resting place | St Lucia Queensland |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Brisbane Central Technical College and National Gallery School, Melbourne |
| Known for | still life; landscape; portrait; art education |
|
Notable work
|
Canungra,c.1930; Wonga Wallen c.1940; Bedroom at St.Lucia with Dobell Portrait c.1961; Monday Morning in Queensland Art Gallery |
| Awards | Society of Arts (NSW) Medal,1945; Coronation Medal, 1953; MBE, 1958. |
Vida Lahey (born Frances Vida Lahey, 1882–1968) was a very important artist from Queensland, Australia. She showed her artwork in many exhibitions for over 60 years, from 1902 to 1965. She was also known for helping other artists and promoting art education.
Contents
Early Life and Art Studies
Vida Lahey was born on August 26, 1882, in Pimpama, Queensland. Her parents were David and Jane Jemima Lahey. She had eleven brothers and sisters, including Romeo Lahey, who became famous for protecting nature.
School and First Art Lessons
Vida went to Goytelea School in Southport. She started learning to paint at the Brisbane Central Technical College. Her teacher there was Godfrey Rivers.
Studying Art in Other Places
In 1902, Vida's uncle paid for her to visit New Zealand. This trip inspired some of her first artworks that were shown to the public. It also helped her get ready to study art in Melbourne. She went to the National Gallery School in Melbourne in 1905 and again in 1909. There, she learned from well-known artists like Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin.
Art and War Service in Europe
During World War I, Vida traveled to London. She wanted to be closer to her brothers and cousins who were fighting in the war. While there, she also studied art whenever she could. She helped with volunteer work to support the war effort. After the war ended, she continued her art studies in Europe. She learned from Frances Hodgkins, studied at the Académie Colarossi in Paris, and also spent time in Italy. She returned to Australia in 1921.
Vida Lahey's Art Career
Vida Lahey was one of the first female artists in Queensland and Australia who worked as a professional. This meant she wanted to earn a living from her art. She was a pioneer in art education, starting art classes for both children and adults in Queensland.
Helping Queensland Art Grow
In 1929, Vida Lahey and another artist, Daphne Mayo, helped create the Queensland Art Fund. This fund was very important. It helped to build an art library and buy artworks for the state of Queensland. In 1927, Vida traveled to Europe again to find more chances to study art.
Awards and Recognition
In 1937, Vida Lahey became a founding member of the Australian Academy of Art. This group was started by Robert Menzies and focused on traditional art styles. Vida received several important awards for her work and her help in promoting Australian art. In 1945, she was given the Society of Artists (NSW) Medal. She also received the Coronation Medal in 1953. In 1958, she was honored with an MBE for her great contributions to art.
Later Life and Home
Vida Lahey's house, called Wonga Wallen, has an interesting history. It was first built for her brother Romeo Lahey in Canungra. The house was finished in 1920.
Moving the House
Later, the house was moved from the edge of Canungra to the town itself. Vida's parents, David and Jane Jemima Lahey, lived there. Then, in 1946, Vida and her sister Jayne Lahey moved the house again. They moved it to its current spot in Sir Fred Schonell Drive, St Lucia, in Brisbane.
Vida's Final Years
Vida Lahey lived at Wonga Wallen in St Lucia until she passed away on August 29, 1968. After her death, the house belonged only to her sister Jayne. Jayne lived there until a few years before she died in 1982. Another sister, Mavis Denholm, also lived in the house for a time. Wonga Wallen was officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because of its historical importance.
Notable Artworks
Vida Lahey painted at least two pictures of the historic Lahey house, Wonga Wallen. These include "Wonga Wallen, Canungra" from the late 1930s and "Wonga Wallen Loggia at Canungra" from the 1940s. Both of these paintings are owned by Ms Shirley Lahey. Another painting, "Bedroom at St Lucia with Dobell portrait," was painted around 1961. Vida painted this one in her own bedroom in St Lucia.
Art Collections and Exhibitions
Vida Lahey's artwork can be found in major art galleries across Australia. This includes the National Gallery of Australia. Her painting, "Monday Morning," is part of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Collection.
A special exhibition called 'Songs of Colour: The Art of Vida Lahey' was held at the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane in 1989.
