Margaret Preston

Across her paintings, prints, decorative objects, and influential teaching and writing, Margaret Preston played a pivotal role in shaping modern Australian art. By advocating for a national art synthesised from styles drawn not just from Europe and Asia but also First Nations visual traditions, Preston helped to position Indigenous cultural practices within broader public discourse.

Bringing together key works and new scholarship, this publication is an in-depth survey of Preston’s career, shedding new light on her artistic networks, complex relationship with First Nations visual culture, and enduring influence on Australian art and design.