Always Modern: The Heide Story

This exhibition tells the remarkable origin story of Heide through highlights from the museum collection from the 1930s to 1950s created by leading figures in the history of Australian art. The Reeds purchased the Heide property in 1934 and opened their home to a progressive cultural community, consciously fostering the development of antipodean modernism. Artists came through in successive waves, beginning with Sam Atyeo, Moya Dyring and Danila Vassilieff in the early days through to Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, Joy Hester, Albert Tucker and John Perceval during the Second World War, and Charles Blackman and Mirka Mora in the postwar period.

Throughout, life at Heide was characterised by a permissive mode of living and loving that has contributed to its reputation as an incubator of the avant garde. Always Modern: The Heide Story explores this rich narrative and celebrates the Reeds’ unswerving commitment to the modernist cause.