B. 1875 – 1955

Alice Bale is renowned for her still life and floral paintings. Born in Melbourne, she developed an early passion for art, studying privately under May Vale and at the National Gallery School under Fred McCubbin and Bernard Hall. Bale won numerous awards during her studies and was a strong contender for the travelling scholarship in 1902.

Her paintings, particularly of flowers, garnered significant attention. Her work Scabiosa was purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria in 1922, becoming one of their first coloured reproductions. A respected member of the Melbourne art community, Blae exhibited regularly with the Women's Art Club, later the Melbourne Society of Women Painters, and contributed to the Victorian Artists' Society journal from 1918 to 1919.

Bale was a vocal advocate for the arts and local heritage, writing letters on issues like the preservation of trees and buildings. She was a member of the Australian Art Association, exhibiting nationally and internationally, including in London in 1923.

Her legacy includes the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize, established in her will to support Australian artists. With works held in public collections across Australia, including the Castlemaine Art Gallery, Alice Bale's contributions to Australian art are vital not only for her technical mastery and vigorous spirit. 

To read a more in-depth biography of the artist, click here.