It's sold more than 45,000 tickets in its opening month and prior to its opening on 11 July, it had the strongest presales for any exhibition in the Art Gallery of South Australia's (AGSA's) history.
And now the Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition blockbuster exhibition is moving into spring with a dynamic program of adjacent events.
From specially curated en plein air workshops in some of South Australia's most picturesque locations to a new season of Monet to Matisse Friday Nights, art lovers are invited to engage with the famous artworks in new and fun ways.
Inviting visitors to paint like the Impressionists, En Plein Air SA - French for "in the open air" - will transform the state into an open-air studio, inspired by the exhibition's celebrated masterworks.
Participants are invited to upload their creations to the AGSA website for a chance to win a Monet to Matisse prize pack.
AGSA Director Jason Smith said: "Following the hugely successful launch of Monet to Matisse, we are delighted to present our spring season of exhibition programs.
"From curated outdoor painting experiences and live music to free family activities, visitors can immerse themselves in art, culture and creativity while discovering more of South Australia through our state-wide En Plein Air SA program."
Following the sold-out winter season of Monet to Matisse Friday Nights, AGSA is launching a new season of spring performances, featuring after-hours exhibition access, a Taittinger champagne bar in the French-inspired lounge and live music in partnership with Honeydripper and Nexus Arts.
Popular hi-fi lounge Honeydripper will bring its rare collection of vinyl to AGSA for guest DJ spots on Friday Nights throughout September, while DJ and producer DJ Track Team (Tom Borgas) will launch the October season of Friday Nights on 2 October, followed
by violinist Anna Freer (9 October).
Nexus Arts will present internationally acclaimed shamisen virtuoso Noriko Tadano, pictured, (16 October) and award-winning Malawian-Australian singer-songwriter Ms Chipeta (23 October).
Monet to Matisse Friday Nights is supported by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency and the City of Adelaide.
For children and families, the Gallery offers a wide range of free family fun days including an immersive installation in AGSA's free activity space The Studio and the Neo program for teenagers aged 13-17, which offers a parent-free zone where young people can kick back and hang out with friends, jump into creative labs and tune into live music.
Monet to Matisse, which is on its way to becoming one of the most successful ticketed exhibitions in AGSA's history, follows the evolution of modern art in Europe and the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
These works tell the story of succeeding generations of painters and how the styles they invented, from Impressionism to Cubism, Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism - defied tradition and transformed modern art.
Alongside celebrated paintings from the Toledo Museum of Art, the exhibition features a selection of works from AGSA's own collection, including pieces by Manet, Matisse, Picasso and Whistler, underscoring the international significance of AGSA's holdings.
Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition is on display at the Art Gallery of South Australia until 8 November 2026. Learn more about public programs and book tickets at agsa.sa.gov.au .
