Joy Hester, (Lovers), 1948/49, ink wash and watercolour on paper, 31 x 25cm. Courtesy: the artists and Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne.

Tom and Karin Smyth began collecting in Melbourne in the early 1960s and, over the next 20 years, built their family collection. Sourced from a wide range of galleries including Tolarno, Australian, Strines, Powell Street, South Yarra, Realities and Rudy Komon, their tastes were wide and idiosyncratic – ranging from the painterly expressionism of the 50s and 60s towards colourfield and photorealism in the 70s.

In short, Tom and Karin made a collection that was very personal and unusually adventurous – and which gave them and their family great enjoyment over many decades.

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