Must-see Turner & Australia Exhibition coming to the Gippsland Art Gallery this June

One of the world’s most celebrated Romantic artists, J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), is set to captivate audiences with a breathtaking exhibition at the Gippsland Art Gallery this June. Known as ‘The Painter of Light,’ Turner revolutionised landscape painting with his masterful use of colour, light, and movement-leaving a legacy that profoundly shaped Australian art.

The Turner & Australia exhibition will feature 11 original Turner artworks, alongside key works from some of Australia’s most renowned artists, including Frederick McCubbin, Eugene von Guérard, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Clarice Beckett, Jessie Traill, Lloyd Rees, Tracey Moffatt, Tony Smibert, and Valerie Sparks.

Turner’s pioneering techniques transformed the Romantic art movement and played a pivotal role in shaping how Australian artists captured their landscapes. From McCubbin’s evocative bush scenes and Streeton’s rural vistas to Beckett’s atmospheric modernism, generations of Australian artists have drawn from Turner’s revolutionary approach - whether through bold colour, expressive brushwork, or his ability to capture fleeting natural effects.

Wellington Shire Mayor, Cr Scott Rossetti said securing the Turner & Australia exhibition was a major achievement, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a key arts destination.

“With artworks arriving from across Australia including all national and state collections, this exhibition is set to attract thousands of visitors to Wellington Shire, contributing an estimated $4 million to the local economy.

Events like this bring real benefits to our region, supporting local businesses and jobs. We’ve seen the impact firsthand, with last year’s Annemieke Mein exhibition generating over $8 million, while the 2021 Archibald Prize exhibition contributed around $4.8 million,” Cr Rossetti said.

Gippsland Art Gallery Director Simon Gregg highlighted Turner’s profound impact on Australian art, explaining how his influence remains as powerful today as it was over a century ago.

“After 16 years at the Gippsland Art Gallery and 30 years in the arts sector, I am continually struck by Turner’s enduring influence on Australian artists.

“When I ask Australian artists who has inspired them, the answer is often Turner. His vision was universal, allowing artists to adapt his techniques to their own landscapes, creating a distinctive Australian artistic identity” he said.

Turner’s mastery of light, movement, and atmosphere can be seen across Australian art history-from the grand colonial landscapes of John Glover and Eugene von Guérard to the moody, ethereal works of Clarice Beckett and Conrad Martens. Artists such as Nicholas Chevalier, James Gleeson, Hans Heysen, William Dobell, Jessie Traill, and Ian Fairweather all found inspiration in Turner’s approach to capturing the changing qualities of sky, sea, and land.

His influence extends beyond traditional landscape painters, shaping the work of contemporary artists like Tracey Moffatt, Tony Smibert, and Valerie Sparks, who continue to explore light, motion, and storytelling in ways that echo Turner’s artistic breakthroughs.

“Even today, when we look at a sunset, we think of Turner. When we look at the mountains, the ocean, or the sky, his influence is there,” Gregg added

“More than any other artist, he has defined how we see and engage with the natural world.”

Whether visitors are discovering Turner for the first time or have long been under his spell, Turner & Australia will immerse audiences in the vitality, scope, and sheer awe-inspiring power of Turner’s legacy and the Australian artists who followed in his wake.

The exhibition runs from 7 June to 24 August 2025 at the Gippsland Art Gallery, 70 Foster St in Sale. Tickets will be on sale soon.

For more information, visit the www.gippslandartgallery.com or phone 03 5142 3500.