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Originating as a bequest in 1978, the Penrith Regional Gallery Collection consists of over 2500 objects, primarily featuring paintings, sculptures, works on paper and photography.
It was Margo Lewers’ wish that her former home and artwork collection be given to the people of Penrith. This ambition was honoured by her daughters Darani Lewers and Tanya Crothers, and the Penrith Regional Gallery was officially opened in 1981.
Included in the Lewers Bequest was the site on River Road, Emu Plains that had been retreat, home, studio and sanctuary for the Lewers family since 1942.
Incorporating the heritage-listed c. 1905 Lewers House, the adjacent Loungeroom redesigned in 1955, and the rigorously modern Ancher House (1961-1964), Penrith Regional Gallery is situated within the unique and equally significant garden designed and created by Margo and Gerald Lewers.
Please note: Ancher House Library is currently CLOSED until further notice. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Situated in the early 1960s modernist home designed by Sydney Ancher in collaboration with Margo Lewers, the Library houses an extensive collection of books and journals on art, design and Australian culture. Visitors can experience the original design intent of Ancher House as an inviting, quiet space for reading about, hearing about and looking at art.
Involved in the establishment of Sydney’s Contemporary Art Society in the 1930s, Gerald and Margo Lewers were leading exponents of Modernism and Abstraction and championed the development of modern art practice.
Penrith Regional Gallery continues to acquire artworks by the Lewers and their contemporaries, as well as those exemplifying the ideas underpinning the practice of Modernism in Australia.
Margo and Gerald Lewers’ permanent move to Emu Plains around 1951 signalled the start of their full-time careers as artists. For Margo – who had previously ‘painted perhaps two or three paintings a year, when I could fit them in’ – Emu Plains was especially significant, providing the literal and metaphorical space to create, and to experiment in various materials and formats. The Penrith Regional Gallery extends this spirit of experimentation, encompassing mediums including collage, mosaic and textiles and highlighting the philosophies and practices which informed the Lewers’ creative lives.
Both Margo and Gerald Lewers were keenly interested in the evolution of new and unique thought, artistic practice, debate and visual arts education. It was Margo’s wish that, after her death, her home at Emu Plains would continue to be a space for creativity in Western Sydney and a site for exhibitions and the exchange of ideas. Her wishes were fulfilled by her daughters Darani and Tanya, who donated the property, buildings and art collection – unconditionally – to Penrith City Council in 1979. Penrith Regional Gallery has been supporting the development of visual art practice by Western Sydney artists since 1981 through the exhibition and acquisition of their work.
Spearheaded by Margo and Gerald Lewers, the art scene of Western Sydney has long been one characterised by vibrancy, innovation and diversity. Penrith Regional Gallery is committed to connecting leading contemporary artists with communities from our region, extending the legacy of Emu Plains as a place for visibility and celebration of local stories.
We are pleased to announce the launch of our online collection in partnership with Google Arts & Culture.
Building on the legacy of the artist and collection donor Margo Lewers, and her desire to encourage and support Greater Western Sydney artists, the Gallery is thrilled to share over 750 artworks from the collection illustrating the site’s social history, key examples of Australian Modernism, and dynamic contemporary works that tell the diverse and varied stories of the region. People around the world can now view these artworks online.
The collection profiles artworks by significant female artists such as Currawongs and Six Day War by Margel Hinder. Hinder was instrumental in the development of Modernism in Australia and is considered one of the most important modernist sculptors of the 20th Century. Alongside her work, you can explore Contemporary artworks by Patricia Piccinini, and Tracey Moffatt.
A new virtual exhibition from the Gallery, Linda Brescia: Skirts, showcasing a series of portraits of women from the Western Sydney suburb of Kingswood is also available to view. The work examines concepts of women’s visibility, safety and identity – issues that will resonate with local, national and international communities. Further specially curated virtual exhibitions have been developed for users to discover the story of the Gallery’s energetic artistic program over the last 20 years, exploring bodies of work developed within the Western Sydney community by local artists.
The Gallery’s online collection also highlights important examples of Australian Modernism like Ralph Balson’s The Construction…Transparent Planes, alongside Contemporary Australian artworks by Blak Douglas, Brook Andrew, and many others.
View Linda Brescia: Skirts virtual exhibition below or visit our Google Arts & Culture Page to explore more!
Collection Access
The Collection is held in trust by Penrith City Council for the public benefit. Should you require further details regarding our Collection or wish to request access, please contact the Registrar:
(02) 4723 7648
joanna.gilmour@penrith.city
dacchi.dang@penrith.city
Ancher House: Photo – Adam Hollingworth