Messums London are delighted to present a second exhibition of work of one of Australia′s most eminent contemporary painters, Ann Thomson following her inaugural presentation in the UK in 2024. This is a significant moment for the reappraisal of Thomson’s work and for the representation of Australian abstract expressionism in the UK. It is a time when the artist feels the voice of Northern European Abstraction can offer a new context beyond Australian parameters. A canon of Australian abstraction, Thomson’s painterly language is defined by vibrant, dynamic compositions, imbued with energy, light and movement, evoking a sense of place.

Having graduated from the National Art School in Australia in 1962, she has been painting and exhibiting for over seventy years and is still actively working, now in her nineties. This presentation continues a series of international exhibitions honouring her work, including notable major presentations at S H Ervin Gallery (2 January – 3 March 2024) and Orange Regional Gallery (7 December 2024 – 9 March 2025), both in New South Wales, Australia.

Reflecting on Thomson’s work across time, Messums London will be showing a substantial series of significant early pieces together with more recent works, none of which have previously been presented in the UK. All the works on show were selected by director Johnny Messum on a recent visit to Thomson’s studio in Sydney and reflect on the career span of her work. This presentation, together with Thomson’s recent major exhibitions, confirms her stature as a ‘tour de force’ of Australian Art.