By Deanne Jeffers
FOR the next four months, Shepparton will be the exclusive Australian home of works by some of the world’s most celebrated artists, with pieces by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse and Paul Cézanne now on display at the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM).
Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso opened to the public on Saturday and features 37 paintings and sculptures from Auckland Art Gallery Toi O Tamaki, many of which have never before been shown in Australia.
Spanning almost a century of artistic innovation, the exhibition traces the evolution of modern art from Impressionism and Post-Impressionism through to Cubism, Surrealism and Abstraction.
The exhibition will run until September 20 and overlaps with the Archibald Prize 2026 later this year, with SAM selected as the only Victorian venue to host the prestigious touring exhibition.
SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy said the exhibition offered visitors a rare opportunity to experience internationally renowned artworks in regional Victoria.
“I think there’s something for everyone,” Mr Lacy said. “The great thing about the show is that people will be drawn to different works, but together they tell the story of the development of modern art from the late 19th century through to the mid-20th century.”
Mr Lacy said visitors often gained a completely different appreciation for the artworks when seeing them in person.
“Even if you’re familiar with these artists through books or online, it’s when you actually see the paintings in person — the brushstrokes, the texture, the colour — that the works really come alive,” he said.
He said the exhibition is already attracting strong interest from outside the region, with some visitors booking trips to Shepparton specifically to see the collection.
“I think that’s what an exhibition of this calibre can do. It really drives people to the region,” Mr Lacy said. “We had someone see the billboard on the Hume Highway and call up straight away to book tickets. They’d never been to Shepparton before.”
The exhibition is divided into six themed sections, with SAM creating its own exhibition design to guide visitors through the changing visual landscape of modern art.
Alongside the exhibition, SAM is running a series of talks, workshops, tours and special events, including family-friendly activities and a children’s audio tour featuring local children discussing selected artworks.
SAM has extended its opening hours during the exhibition period and will operate seven days a week, with late openings until 7pm every Friday.
Local concession tickets are available for $19, while children aged 12 and under can enter free. To book or learn more, visit the SAM website or go to: https://tinyurl.com/77j9bhv2
