'Monet to Matisse' exhibition off to picture-perfect start
Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, the first exhibition in the Government’s new ‘Winter Art Series’, is on its way to becoming one of the most successful ticketed exhibitions in the Art Gallery of South Australia’s (AGSA’s) history.
So far more than 45,000 tickets have been sold since its July opening, with another 3 months to go until it closes on 8 November.
Prior to opening to the public on 11 July, AGSA had achieved its strongest pre-sales for any exhibition in its history.
Monet to Matisse is the first exhibition in AGSA’s new ‘Winter Art Series’, supported by the Government’s A Place to Create cultural policy and $10 million investment. The Winter Art Series will bring major international exhibitions exclusively to Adelaide during the winter seasons from 2026-29, promoting Adelaide and South Australia as a ‘must-visit’ arts and cultural destination.
School students are set to benefit from this remarkable exhibition, with 114 school classes, or approximately 2,742 students, already booked in to visit Monet to Matisse and experience these masterworks in person.
1,560 children from 41 schools have been supported through the Monet to Matisse Luminaries, an AGSA donor group dedicated to supporting education initiatives. Students will travel from remote and regional communities across South Australia to experience Monet to Matisse at AGSA, many visiting a major cultural institution for the very first time.
Schools will travel from across SA including Wallaroo, Naracoorte, Port Lincoln, Renmark and Ceduna. These school groups will travel a collective 14,486 kilometres to reach the Gallery.
AGSA has announced a dynamic program of Spring events in association with the exhibition, from specially curated en plein air workshops in some of South Australia’s most picturesque locations to a new season of Monet to Matisse Friday Nights.
Inviting visitors to paint like the Impressionists, En Plein Air SA will transform the state into an open-air studio, inspired by the exhibition’s celebrated masterworks. Following its sold-out Winter season, Monet to Matisse Friday Nights returns with a vibrant program of live music, including vinyl DJ sets curated by Honeydripper and performances from leading local musicians presented by Nexus Arts. Monet to Matisse includes works never-before-seen in Australia from some of the most influential European and American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Helen Frankenthaler, Piet Mondrian, Berthe Morisot, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse.
The exhibit showcases the styles of Impressionism to Cubism, Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism, alongside a selection of works from AGSA’s own significant international collection, including pieces by Manet, Matisse, Picasso and Whistler.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke says Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition has been the talk of the town.
“It’s clear to see why it’s set to become one of AGSA’s most successful ticketed exhibitions.”
“This outstanding exhibition continues to attract visitors from across South Australia, interstate and abroad to Adelaide – supporting our world-class hospitality and tourism offerings across the city.”
Arts Minister, and Deputy Premier, Kyam Maher added; “Monet to Matisse is an Australian-exclusive exhibition right here in South Australia that showcases an extraordinary collection of masterpieces some of the most influential European and American artists of the period.”
“This remarkable exhibition is the first in the Winter Art Series under the Government’s A Place to Create policy, entrenching Adelaide and South Australia’s position on the global state as a major arts and cultural hub.”
“There’s still plenty of time to visit Monet to Matisse, with late-night events, art-making activities and curator-led exhibition talks available.”
Jason Smith. Director of Art Gallery South Australia said; “We are delighted with the wonderfully enthusiastic public response to Monet to Matisse since it launched last month. From school groups to interstate visitors, we have welcomed thousands of people of all ages from SA's regions, interstate and overseas.”
“The Art Gallery of South Australia is proud to partner with the South Australian government to establish the AGSA Winter Art Series as a signature offering during Adelaide's winter months.”
