Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, an Australian-exclusive exhibition of masterworks from the acclaimed Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, United States, has opened at the Art Gallery of South Australia as the debut exhibition in AGSA’s Winter Art Series.
Featuring works never-before-seen in Australia, Monet to Matisse explores a transformative period in art history through iconic works by leading European and American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries including Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Helen Frankenthaler, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh and James McNeill Whistler.
“Monet to Matisse brings together an extraordinary collection of masterpieces from the Toledo Museum of Art, offering audiences a rare opportunity to encounter artworks by some of the most influential European and American artists of the period,” said Jason Smith, Director, AGSA.
“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,” said Mr Smith.
“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,” said Adam Levine, Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey President, Director, and CEO of the Toledo Museum of Art.
Monet to Matisse follows the evolution of modern art in Europe and the United States at the turn of the 20th century. These works tell the story of succeeding generations of painters and how the styles they invented – from Impressionism to Cubism, Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism – defied tradition and transformed modern art.
Alongside celebrated paintings from the Toledo Museum of Art, the exhibition will also feature a selection of works from AGSA’s own collection, including pieces by Manet, Matisse, Picasso and Whistler, underscoring the international significance of AGSA’s holdings.
In partnership with the South Australian Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission, AGSA’s Winter Art Series is a new initiative that brings major international exhibitions exclusively to Adelaide during the winter seasons from 2026-29, celebrating Adelaide’s position as a cultural destination through exhibitions from world renowned art collections and complemented by curated experiences and events.
“This winter, we invite all South Australians to enjoy some of art history’s most celebrated artists at the Australian-exclusive exhibition Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition. This remarkable exhibition will enrich South Australia’s vibrant arts calendar and cement AGSA and Adelaide as a major tourism destination,” said The Hon Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Arts.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can enjoy a series of public programs and events, including live music, deep-dive curator talks, immersive activity spaces designed by local artists, and late-night soirées in the Monet to Matisse champagne lounge.
The AGSA Shop will celebrate Monet to Matisse with a vibrant range of merchandise, including a fully-illustrated exhibition catalogue and exclusive design ranges by Australian artists and designers.
Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition
Art Gallery of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide
Exhibition continues to 8 November 2026
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.agsa.sa.gov.au for details.
Images: Installation view: Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, 2026, featuring Water Lilies by Claude Monet, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide – photo by Saul Steed | Installation view: Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition, 2026, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide – photo by Saul Steed