Portia Stranston Geach (1873 - 1959)

Biography

1873 Born in Melbourne
1890-96 Studied at the National Gallery School
1896-90 Travelled and studied in Europe. Studied under John Singer Sargent at the Royal Academy School, London
1901 Had a studio in Melbourne
Well known as an active feminist in her day, she was particularly interested in the problems of women artists
1965 The Portia Geach Prize of 1000 for portraiture was inaugurated

Exhibitions

Victorian Arts Society, exhibited regularly from 1901
Royal Art Society, exhibited regularly from 1906
Women’s Work Exhibition, Melbourne in 1907
Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts, Paris in 1926
Several solo exhibitions in Europe

Awards

1896 The first Australian awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy School, London

Collections

The Mitchell Library, Sydney
National Library of Australia, Canberra
Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Many state and regional galleries as well as corporate and private collections

Sources:
Caroline Ambrus, 'The Ladies Picture Show: Sources on a Century of Australian Women Artists', Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1984
'Heritage: The National Women's Art Book', edited by Joan Kerr, Craftsman House, Roseville, 1995

KR