Collection: Ethel Spowers

Ethel Spowers (1890–1947) was an Australian artist born and deceased in Melbourne. She trained at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in London, where she developed her practice, particularly in linocut. Spowers was a founder of the Contemporary Art Society, an organization dedicated to promoting modern art within Australia.

Spowers specialized in linocuts, a medium through which she explored dynamic compositions and simplified forms. Her graphic works, such as Wet Afternoon (1929), are held in significant Australian and British art collections. Her artistic output reflects the modernist sensibilities she cultivated during her studies.

As a co-founder of the Contemporary Art Society, Spowers played a role in advocating for modern art in Australia. This initiative contributed to the broader reception and understanding of contemporary artistic practices in her home country.