Elioth Gruner

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

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Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – 'Afterglow', headlined by Miss Kaninna, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember! 

Thursday 16 October 2025 
4.30pm – 10pm 
Cell Block Theatre 

RSVP at the link in bio. 

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.
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