Adele Younghusband

Training under George Bell, Horace Moore-Jones and Henry Gaze is recorded. The recorded working language is English. Employment is recorded with Sarony Studio. Works named in the authority record are Chases Gorge, Dargaville, Townscape, Studies of birds and Sand dunes. Work by Adele Younghusband is recorded in the collections of Auckland Art Gallery, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Waikato Museum, Whangārei Art Museum and National Gallery of Australia.

• Name — Adele Younghusband • Birth Name — Adela Mary Roche • Born — 3 April 1878 • Birthplace — Te Awamutu, New Zealand • Died — 3 April 1969 • Place of death — Auckland, New Zealand • Known for — Painting and photography • Style — Abstract surrealism

Adela Mary Roche was born in Te Awamutu on 3 April 1878. She married Frank Younghusband in Christchurch on 1 August 1905, and they went on to have three children, before separating in 1917. After working as a photographic retoucher in Hamilton, Younghusband became a member of the Auckland Society of Arts in 1909. In 1919, Younghusband and her three children moved to Whangārei where she started working in a photographic studio in, and establishing herself as a successful portrait photographer. In 1921, Younghusband founded the Whangarei Arts and Literary Society, and acted as its secretary. In August 1934, with Ida Carey, Younghusband convened the inaugural meeting of the Waikato Society of Arts in Hamilton. She became its secretary and represented it on the Association of New Zealand Art Societies. From 1937 to 1940, Younghusband undertook art education and creative experimentation in Australia. During her time in Australia, she was a member of the Victoria Society of Arts. She developed an interest in abstract surrealism and studied with George Bell in Melbourne. In the early 1950s, when she was back in Auckland, she instigated the Phoenix Group of painters. In 1964, Younghusband was made a life member of the Waikato Society of Arts. Interest has grown in Younghusband's work since her death, notably with survey exhibitions organised by the Whangarei Art Museum, which holds a number of her works. The exhibition Adele Younghusband: In Context was presented in 1998 and toured to venues including the Sarjeant Gallery and Te Tuhi (then known as The Fisher Gallery), and the exhibition Adele Younghusband: The Cursive Line, featuring more than 70 works, was presented in 2008 and toured to venues including the Waikato Museum and the Gus Fisher Gallery where it was shown under the title New Zealand Surrealist. Both exhibitions were curated and toured by Whangarei Art Museum Director, Scott Pothan.

Younghusband has a large and varied body of work, and she continued to produce new pieces well into her eighties. Her paintings depict scenes of everyday life at home and at work, landscapes that highlight people’s interactions with farming, logging, and quarrying, as well as allegorical works exploring themes of religion and war. She also engaged with Māori mythology, incorporating its stories and symbolism into her art.

Younghusband was exhibited at • An Exhibition of Paintings and Lino-Cuts by Adele Younghusband, Lodestar Galleries Sydney, 1937 • Solo Exhibition Auckland Society of Arts, 1941 • Solo Exhibition Waikato Society of Arts, 1945 • Solo Exhibition Auckland Society of Arts, 1957 • John Leech Gallery Auckland, 1991 • Adele Younghusband: In Context, Whangarei Art Museum, 1998 (toured to venues including the Sarjeant Gallery and Te Tuhi (fka The Fisher Gallery) • Adele Younghusband: The Cursive Line, Whangarei Art Museum, 2008 (toured to venues including Gus Fisher Gallery and Waikato Art Museum)

• New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition, 1932 • New Zealand Society of Artists First General Exhibition, 1933 • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Toi Te Papa | Art Of The Nation, 2005 • Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki: Modern Women: Flight of Time, 2025

Adele Younghusband was recorded at birth as Adela Mary Roche. The authorities additionally record the headings Adela Mary Younghusband, Adele Mary Younghusband, Adela Mary Roche, Adele Mary Roche and Adele Roche. Her recorded language was English. Other recorded relations include Fanny Osborne.

Adele Younghusband is recorded with the occupation professional photographer. Recorded as painter, printmaker and photographer.