Elioth Gruner
:quality(82)/news/Elioth-Gruner_-Michelago-valley_no-frame.jpg)
Elioth Gruner
Many poets, artists and filmmakers have appreciated the expansive Michelago Valley, situated south of Canberra in the Monaro region of New South Wales. Along with his mentor George Lambert, Elioth Gruner (1882- 1939) was captivated by the subtle play of light across the valley. When he died at the age of 57 in 1939, he left two large paintings of Michelago Valley unfinished, and the Gruner Estate donated them to the National Art School as teaching aids for the students.
Gruner’s approach to painting is fascinating to see, and both works display immaculately finished skies and very raw unfinished foregrounds. Despite this, the works are framed as if completed, and the second painting contains one central soft cloud, hovering over the distant hills, creating a feeling of calm and tranquility.


Images: Elioth Gruner, Michelago Valley, c1938, oil on canvas, 91 x 136 cm, National Art School Collection, gift of the Gruner estate, c1939; Elioth Gruner, Unfinished landscape (detail), c1938,oil on canvas, 101 x 120 cm, National Art School Collection, gift of the Gruner estate, c1939
Latest News
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Please see below for current and forthcoming exhibitions and events featuring our staff and alumni. Oliver Abbott: Guide Alum Oliver Abbott (MFA, 2024) presents Guide at Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney. “Guide continues an ongoing investigation into a synthesised world. I glean fragments of architecture, infrastructure and landscape, rebuild and reconfigure them, and navigate the new space …
Wednesday 02 September 2026
Wednesday 02 September 2026
Create NSW is currently calling all emerging visual artists in NSW to apply for the 2027 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) program. The annual NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging) program, delivered in partnership between Artspace and Create NSW, has been a long-standing and successful platform for nurturing NSW’s emerging visual artists. With mentorship and support from Artspace’s curatori…
Monday 31 August 2026
Monday 31 August 2026
We are delighted to announce the recipients of the prestigious National Art School international residencies for 2027. The British School at Rome Congratulations to Fiona Currey Billyard (NAS MFA 2023), the 2027 recipient of the British School at Rome Residency. Made possible through the generosity of our donors, particularly Jennifer Dowling, this three-month residency offers the opportunity t…
:quality(82)/news/eDM-Single-Column-660-px-x-400-px-46.png)
:quality(82)/news/f28ae826-5619-41e1-b0a1-3de6cd01606f.webp)
:quality(82)/news/Fiona-Currey-Billyard_The-Procure.jpg)