1882, Pimpama, Qld – 1968, Brisbane

Vida Lahey began her studies at the Brisbane Central Technical College under R Godfrey Rivers, and from 1905 to 1909, studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne under Frederick McCubbin and Lindsay Bernard Hall. During this time, she also studied landscape and watercolour painting privately with Walter Withers, and she returned to Brisbane to exhibit with the Queensland Art Society. In 1910, she began teaching art at the Brisbane Girls’ High School (now Somerville House). Lahey went to London in 1916, and after World War One, travelled throughout Europe. She studied briefly in Paris, as well as in England, in 1920. Lahey returned to Australia in 1922 and exhibited widely. She spent two years living and working in Tasmania before leaving for Europe once again in 1927, staying for two years to pursue her interest in modern art. Lahey had a long association with the Queensland Art Gallery, and had an important and lasting influence on the direction of art in the state. In recognition of her contributions as an artist, teacher and art advocate, Lahey was awarded the prestigious Society of Artists (Sydney) medal in 1945, a Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953 and an MBE in 1958.