ABOUT LESLEY DUMBRELL
Geometric Abstract Artist
Born on October 14, 1941, in Melbourne, Lesley Dumbrell is an Australian artist known for her precise abstract geometric paintings. For over forty years Lesley Dumbrell has been refining her technique of geometric abstract painting, injecting colour, light and emotion into an often precise painting style associated with the Colour Field Painters of the 1960s.
lesley's JOUrney
2020 – Tracey Clement
Essay for Art Guide Australia Opening Doors 2020
For more than five decades Lesley Dumbrell has been making her own mark in the male-dominated enclave of geometric abstraction. “I have always said I’m a feminist and I’m very proud of it,” explains the artist. (read full article)
1999 – Rachel Kent
Essay for Lesley Dumbrell, Shades of Light 1971 – 1999 (Extract from catalogue Essay)
Dumbrell is not an artist who invites easy categorisation, Shunning the figurative tradition often associated with representations of Australian national identity, she embraced an international abstract mode with her first one-woman exhibition at Bonython Gallery, Sydney in 1969.
1987 – Ten by ten 1978 – 1985
200 Gertrude Street
Curated by Lesley Dumbrell: Mickey Allan, Howard Arkley, Rosalie Gascoigne, Elizabeth Gower, Dale Hickey, Robert hunter, Bea Maddock, John Nixon, Peter Tyndall, Jenny Watson. (Extract from catalogue essay)
Art is shaped by one’s personal sense of time and place. For all artists there is a moment when a body of work is completed and installed in an exhibition space which remains unique to that particular time and place. (read full article)
1986 – Patrick McCaughey,
Director, National Gallery of Victoria (Extract from catalogue essay)
The most striking demonstration of this can be found in Lesley Dumbrell’s watercolours. No artist of her generation has been a more committed and thoroughgoing abstract painter. Ever since she emerged as a distinctive artist in the late 1960’s, her work has had the impersonal exhilaration found in the best abstraction of recent years. (read full article)
1986 – Irena Zdanowicz,
Curator, National Gallery of Victoria (Extract from catalogue essay)
Like a kaleidoscope moved slowly Lesley Dumbrell’s art has undergone a variety of transformations which have been surprising yet utterly consistent. Having discovered early her preference for abstraction, despite a rigorously figurative training, she has explored it with a resoluteness which has been firm but not rigid. (read full article)
1979 – James Gleeson interviews Major Australian Artists
National Gallery of Australia Oral History Collection
In the late 1970s Dr James Gleeson AO, Australia’s leading surrealist painter, interviewed 98 Australian artists in their studios to discuss their works that had been acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.
1977 – Patrick McCaughey,
Chairman, Department of Visual Arts, Catalogue for paintings and studies 1967 – 1977 (Extract from catalogue essay)
Monash has been most fortunate in securing Lesley Dumbrell as its third Artist-in-Rsidence. She has become one of the leading younger abstract painters of Melbourne over the last few years and this exhibition portrays the emergence of her present individual style. (read full article)
lesley’s inspiration
lesley’s inspiration
Transforming Colour, Line, and Movement into Visual Poetry
Dumbrell's work is a symphony of precision, color, and movement, blending meticulous structure with an innate sense of rhythm. She is renowned for her geometric, hard-edged abstract paintings that evoke natural elements such as wind, fire, and rain, often creating the illusion of movement through color and line. Works like Ripple (1972) and Foehn (1975) exemplify her ability to translate intangible forces into visual poetry.
Her creative process is deeply methodical, beginning with detailed sketches and progressing to carefully executed paintings. Dumbrell’s dedication is evident in pieces like her triptych February (1976), which took six months to complete. The 1970s also marked Dumbrell’s pivotal role in the feminist art movement. As a co-founder of the Women’s Art Register, she contributed to a lasting archive that celebrates and advocates for Australian women artists. Her involvement with the Women’s Art Movement fostered a vibrant community and laid the groundwork for future generations of artists.
LESLEY TODAY
Continuing a Legacy of Innovation and Mastery
In 1990, Dumbrell moved to Thailand, where the vibrant culture and landscapes brought a new dimension to her art. The intricate interplay of colors and patterns in her work reflects the visual richness of Southeast Asia, further enhancing her signature style. Dividing her time between Thailand and the Strathbogie Ranges in Victoria, Dumbrell continues to explore the boundaries of abstraction.
Her recent works extend beyond the canvas, venturing into metal sculptures created with water-jet cutting techniques. This evolution demonstrates her enduring commitment to innovation and experimentation, even after six decades in the art world.
In 2024, Dumbrell’s career was celebrated with Thrum, a landmark retrospective at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Spanning over fifty years of creativity, the exhibition highlighted her mastery of color, movement, and rhythm, reaffirming her status as one of Australia’s most significant artists.
Dumbrell’s works are held in prestigious collections across Australia, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the National Gallery of Australia. Her influence on both the art world and feminist movements remains profound, inspiring artists and audiences worldwide.
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