Help Find These Missing 1960s Abstract Expressionist Artworks

Abstract expressionism was hard to find in the ultra-conservative 1960s Australian art world. That is, until Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria shook things up with The Field—a groundbreaking 1968 exhibition of local abstract and conceptual geometric hard edge paintings and sculptures. On its fiftieth anniversary in 2018, the NGV will re-stage the radical show that changed everything. But there’s just one problem: some of the original artworks are missing.

The original The Field was the first exhibition to be staged at the newly opened NGV building, and curators pulled out all the stops. Featuring works by local artists like Sydney Ball, Peter Booth, Clement Meadmore, Janet Dawson, and Robert Jacks, the walls of the new gallery were decorated in silver foil and geometric light fittings. It felt like the future, and rightfully so—the show’s influence echoes throughout contemporary Australian art today.

Unfortunately, after the show wrapped, its artworks were scattered around Australia. At this stage, 60 of the original 74 works from the show have been located, but the remaining 14 works—8 paintings and 6 sculptures—are missing in action. They could have been destroyed, lost, or perhaps they have been hanging innocently in your grandmother’s living room for all this time.

If that’s the case, the NGV would love for you to get in touch. They’re appealing for anyone who might have information about the missing art to help out with the search.

Check out images of some of the missing artworks below. If they look familiar, email findthefield@ngv.vic.gov.au. You can find out more about the show and see the whole list of missing pieces here.

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