Maryke Degeus was born at The Hague, The Netherlands in 1917. She had an unhappy childhood, but later trained as a school teacher. She became an important member of the circle around Jon Molvig and was largely self taught (although she may have studied briefly at the Akademie voor Beeldende Kunsten, The Hague). During the years of World War II she was involved with the Dutch resistance movement, and also served in Indonesia. In 1949 she came to live in Brisbane where she taught at the Stuartholme Convent and a few years later built a cottage on Acacia Street, Surfers Paradise. There she taught children’s art and produced many watercolour studies of children. At the suggestion of the art dealer, John Cooper, she studied with Jon Molvig at St Mary’s Studio, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane from 1957. She became friendly with Ian Fairweather and produced several portraits of him. The following year she travelled with Molvig to Melbourne and through Central Australia. Degeus was notable for her vigorous technique especially with the palette knife. In 1960 she was reported as making her living from art as she was able to turn her hand to any necessity. At her suggestion Jon Molvig and Charles Blackman set up a teaching studio at Broadbeach for about a year. She taught as well as designed costumes for the production of Hotel Paradiso by the Gold Coast Little Theatre 1961.

During her marriage to an oil company executive, whom she met while travelling in Holland in 1966, she lived in Borneo and Sarawak but after they separated, Degeus returned to live in Surfers Paradise. She was one of the first Australian artists to be influenced by the experience of Indonesia – in 1972 she exhibited works with tribal subjects at the Reid Gallery. Subsequently, adapting once more to necessity, she transferred her major art interest to ceramics in which the influence of Indonesia dominated. As central Surfers Paradise was being developed extensively she sold her studio and moved to a new house/studio at Nerang where her ceramics and a ceramic mural were an important feature of its decoration. During the 1970s she also conducted pottery classes for children.

Degeus exhibited paintings extensively from 1958 in group exhibitions including : H.C. Richards Memorial Prize 1958-64; Redcliffe Art Contest 1959-72; Queensland Artists of Fame and Promise 1959; Centenary Art Competition 1959; Queensland Centenary Eisteddfod Art Competition 1959 (for which she was awarded the prize for 'Bag sewer’); Contemporary Art Society of Australia (Queensland Branch) 1962-64; Royal National Association 1963-65; L.J. Harvey Memorial Prize for Drawing 1963; Half Dozen Group of Artists 1964 and the Gold Coast City Art Prize 1968-71.

Maria Wilhelmina Degeus, as she was also known, died on 12 February 2007.

Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R.

Date written:

2008

Last updated:

2011