‘Spectrum’ brings together works of abstract art from the Gallery’s Australian art collection. These dynamic paintings and sculptures, which span the late 1960s to the present day, sample the manifold ways Australian artists have explored colour, material and form.

Each artist represented here engages with elements of Australian abstraction first brought to public attention in the National Gallery of Victoria’s groundbreaking 1968 exhibition ‘The Field’. As with ‘The Field’, ‘Spectrum’ prominently features works of hard-edge abstraction. Characterised by areas of monochromatic colour separated by sharp borders, hard-edge abstraction gives the impression of flatness and machine-made perfection to paintings and sculptures. This postwar approach to artmaking can be read as a response to the proliferation of industrially produced everyday objects, in which the crafter’s hand was no longer evident.

Several artists featured here play with the principles of hard-edge abstraction, using colour to imbue their works with three-dimensionality, softening their painted borders with hand-finished lines, or layering geometric forms with different textures. While some make no reference to the outside world in their works, others have drawn inspiration from more tangible themes or lived experiences. Linked by a network of connections to the ever‑present legacy of Australian abstraction, the diverse artworks in ‘Spectrum’ demonstrate the ongoing influence of visual experimentation on Australian art.

'Spectrum' is on display from July 2025 to February 2026 in the Watermall, QAG. To make the most of your visit, check the exhibition dates, get information on getting here and parking, and find out about Gallery accessibility.