Discover Australia's Art Through Story
The Lost Impressionist was founded by Joanna McOwen. An artist, tour curator and passionate storyteller with a lifelong fascination for Australian art history.
Combining over 25 years' experience creating exceptional travel experiences with a successful career as a contemporary Australian artist, Joanna has created a unique collection of Melbourne art tours, Australian art history experiences and private gallery tours that reveal the stories behind Australia's most influential artists.
The inspiration for The Lost Impressionist began with one remarkable Australian artist, John Russell.
Although celebrated by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse, Russell remains relatively unknown outside art circles. His extraordinary life and artistic legacy inspired Joanna to create experiences that celebrate not only Russell's story but the wider story of Australian art.
Today, The Lost Impressionist explores everything from the pioneering Australian Impressionists and Melbourne's rich artistic heritage to the vibrant contemporary gallery scene and the remarkable diversity of First Nations art.
More Than a Gallery Tour
Every experience is carefully researched and thoughtfully curated.
Whether you're strolling through Melbourne's historic laneways, visiting contemporary galleries, discovering Australia's Impressionist movement or exploring contemporary First Nations art, each tour combines history, storytelling and personal insight to create an experience that is engaging, inspiring and memorable.
Rather than simply showing you artworks, Joanna brings them to life through the people, places and stories that shaped them.
Joanna's love of art began during a school visit to the Louvre in Paris, where she first encountered the work of Claude Monet. That experience sparked a lifelong curiosity about artists, their lives and the stories behind their work.
She later completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Textile Design before undertaking postgraduate studies in Interior Design at Chelsea College of Art in London. After a successful international career in the luxury tour industry, Joanna returned to her first love of painting and today exhibits her own contemporary Australian landscapes in private collections around the world.
Whether you are visiting Melbourne for the first time, looking to deepen your understanding of Australian art or considering purchasing Australian artwork, The Lost Impressionist offers thoughtfully curated experiences designed to connect you with Australia's rich artistic heritage.
I look forward to welcoming you.
Joanna
