Ingrid Erns

Russian-born Ingrid Erns studied at art schools in Riga, Latvia, between 1939 and 1944. Erns came to Australia after WW2 and settled in Adelaide. Here, she became a member of the Contemporary Art Society (SA) and the Royal South Australian Society of Arts. She exhibited in the RSASA's group exhibitions regularly as well as holding several solo exhibitions in the Society's gallery, specialising in landscapes and portraits in oils. She was awarded the RSASA's portrait prize in 1949 and in 1969 became a member of its council. She held solo exhibitions at commercial Adelaide galleries in the sixties and seventies and ran private art classes. Erns completed a number of portrait commissions including those of Adelaide hotelier Louisa O'Brien as well as a number of Adelaide University academics. Her work is mainly held in private collections and in that of Adelaide University.