River Murray Scenes (And Other Land - and Seascapes)

Fred Williams is recognised as one of Australia’s finest landscape painters. This series of thirteen panels was specifically commissioned for this space – in the Festival Theatre Foyer and was the artist’s first public commission in 1973.  

Throughout the 40s and 50s Williams attended some of the most reputable art schools; including Chelsea School of Art, London. On his return to Australia, he was struck by what he described as,  

'The unstructured Australian countryside – a landscape with no centre – that wasn’t naturally composed.'

As the artwork title suggests River Murray Scenes (and Other Land – and Seacapes) were painted from life on the River Murray near Loxton. Williams’ works have genuinely changed how many Australians see the landscape and themselves in it.