B. 1912–1994

Mary MacQueen (1912–1994) was a modern Australian watercolourist, printmaker and draughtswoman whose work is celebrated for its sensitivity and observational clarity. Born in Melbourne in 1912, MacQueen began her formal training in 1927 with a year of commercial art at Swinburne Technical College. She continued her studies privately under Catherine Hardess, a Slade School of Art graduate a year later, and in 1946 MacQueen further developed her practice through classes with the influential modernist George Bell. 

MacQueen commenced exhibiting with the Victorian Artists Society in 1943, steadily establishing herself within Melbourne’s mid-century artistic community. Her practice centred on watercolour, printmaking and drawing, often depicting figures, animals and still lifes. MacQueen's contribution to Australian modernism is reflected in the breadth of collections that hold her work. 

MacQueen's prints, paintings and drawings are represented in major public institutions across Australia and the United Kingdom, including the National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia and the British Museum. Her legacy endures through her refined craftsmanship and enduring contribution to Australian works on paper.

For a more in-depth biography of this artist, click here.