The Schaeffer Fine Arts Library is honoured to present an exhibition "J.W. Power: Art, war and the avant-garde", curated in collaboration with the Chau Chak Wing Museum and Fisher Library, celebrating the life and legacy of JW Power.
John Joseph Wardell Power (1881–1943), Australian artist, benefactor, and principal bequestor of the Power Institute Foundation for Art and Visual Culture. Power’s generous bequest to the University of Sydney not only established the Power Institute but continues to enrich the University’s collections, including the Schaeffer Library.
A medical doctor turned artist, Power trained in London and Paris during the early 20th century. Immersed in the avant-garde, he became closely associated with the European abstractionist movements of the interwar years. His work explored the radical ideas shaping modern art, and today he is recognized as one of the most significant Australian voices in international modernism.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Power’s far-reaching vision laid the foundations for the University of Sydney to become a centre for the study and appreciation of contemporary art. His bequest supports teaching, research, exhibitions, and acquisitions—impacting generations of scholars and artists.
The Power Institute was founded at the University of Sydney in 1968 through a bequest from Australian artist John W. Power. The bequest expressed his wish: "To make available to the people of Australia the latest ideas and theories in plastic arts, so as to bring the people of Australia in more direct touch with the latest art developments in other countries."
Since its establishment, the bequest has supported the development of the University of Sydney's Art History Discipline, the JW Power Collection of contemporary art (which led to the creation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia), and the Power Institute’s extensive contributions to research, public programs, and award-winning publications.
This exhibition "J.W. Power: Art, war and the avant-garde" at the Schaeffer Fine Arts Library, in alignment with ongoing tributes at the Chau Chak Wing Museum and Fisher Library, showcases selected works by JW Power alongside materials reflecting his enduring legacy. Through these displays, we honour his pioneering spirit and celebrate the continuing influence of his gift on the University’s cultural life.
Location: 3rd Floor, Schaeffer Fine Arts Library, RC Mills Building
Date: 5th September 2025 to February 2026
Bibliography
- “John Joseph Wardell Power :: Biography,” Design & Art Australia Online. Accessed via the Design & Art Australia
- Bradley, Anthony, and Bernard Smith. “Power, John Joseph Wardell (1881–1943),” Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 1988 (online edition).
- “JW Power: The Human Calculator,” Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney. Exhibition summary.
- “John Power: Music and Dancing,” Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Exhibition details.
- “J. W. Power: Artist, Benefactor and Artist,” The Sydney Morning Herald. Article exploring Power’s life and his role as benefactor and artist.
J.W. Power, (Self portrait) c.1920, oil on canvas, PW1961.8 CCW Museum.