Rosalie Gascoigne is one of Australia’s most fascinating twentieth-century artists, renowned for transforming found materials into sublime poetic form. Born in New Zealand and migrating to Australia in 1943, Gascoigne was driven by a lifelong fascination with the local landscape. She spent her career foraging debris in the regions surrounding Canberra, believing that her materials had to endure the land they depicted.

This sculptural assemblage 'Blue Water' embodies Gascoigne’s singular ability to elevate the everyday, using found objects and to create a work that is both deeply local and universally resonant. Created in 1977, this work speaks to the colonial history of Australia, with maritime flags and waving hands seemingly assembled to reflect historical narratives. Using her signature artistic voice, 'Blue Water' conjures a vivid sense of place and era, meticulously constructed from objects imbued with stories of their own.

In 1982 Gascoigne became the first female artist to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale and has been credited with contributing a unique perception of the landscape. While she never attended art school, Gascoigne spent her entire life looking; in her words she is “not making pictures, I make feelings."

Represented across public collections, she was honoured with a major retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2008–2009. For collectors enamoured by formative Australian artists, or those fascinated by Gascoigne's unique artistic voice, this work is a jewel to find.

Rosalie GASCOIGNE (1917 - 1999)
'Blue Water' 1977
Wood, ceramic, rubber, iron, printed tin and nails
Image Size: 21 x 56 cm
Dimensions: 21 x 56 x 12 cm

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Very Good

(c) Rosalie Gascoigne / Copyright Agency