Opening 11 July 2026 at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition will be the first instalment of AGSA’s brand-new Winter Art Series, a major cultural initiative backed by the South Australian Government.
Presented in collaboration with the world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, USA, this Australian-exclusive exhibition features 57 masterworks that trace the radical evolution of modern art across Europe and America during the 19th and 20th centuries.
“Monet to Matisse will reveal one of art history’s most transformative periods through a truly outstanding collection of 57 treasures from one of the United States’ finest art museums,” says AGSA Director, Jason Smith.
This important collaboration with the Toledo Museum of Art will see masterworks travel to Australia for the first time, on display exclusively at the Art Gallery of South Australia throughout winter 2026.
From van Gogh’s luminous haystacks to Monet’s iconic water lilies, visitors will encounter paintings by some of the world’s most influential artists—the innovators and trailblazers of their time whose work defied traditions and whose legacies continue to reverberate today.
Masterpieces from the Greats: Monet, van Gogh, Matisse & more
Spanning Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism, Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition includes works by influential artists such as:
- Claude Monet – Water Lilies (c.1922), an ethereal reflection of his Giverny gardens.
- Vincent van Gogh – Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers (1890), a stirring expression of life and mortality.
- Henri Matisse – Dancer Resting (1940), showcasing his vibrant colour and pattern play.
- Piet Mondrian – Composition with Red, Blue, Yellow, Black, and Gray (1922), a striking example of Neoplasticism.
- Helen Frankenthaler – Blue Jay (1963), a mesmerising example of her ‘soak stain’ abstract technique.
- Paul Klee – Villas for Marionettes (1922), a whimsical, multi-layered composition of form and fantasy.
The exhibition will also incorporate complementary works from AGSA’s own internationally significant collection, including pieces by Manet, Matisse, Picasso, Whistler, and a rare drawing by Édouard Vuillard.
The Toledo Museum of Art is renowned for the exceptional quality of its collection. Never before have so many of the Museum’s masterworks travelled together, and we are proud to share them with audiences in Australia for the first time.
AGSA’s Winter Art Series
Supported by the South Australian Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission, AGSA’s Winter Art Series is set to run annually from 2026 to 2029, showcasing blockbuster exhibitions from major international collections and transforming Adelaide into a winter cultural hub.
From July 2026 to November 2026, visitors will be immersed not only in world-class art but also in Adelaide’s vibrant winter offering—boutique events, gourmet food, fine wine, and charming city experiences.
Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition is at the Art Gallery of South Australia from 11 July 2026 to 8 November 2026. Limited early bird tickets are now on sale at agsa.sa.gov.au
