The AWI's first exhibition occurred at
Anthony Hordern & Sons' art gallery in 1924. A students' exhibition began in 1930. Until 1974, the AWI met in a variety of places and the annual exhibitions were held in different galleries. In that year, it received a grant enabling the AWI to rent space in a building on Sydney's Sussex Street. A reciprocal exhibition with the American Watercolor Society occurred in 1975, and in 1977, an AWI exhibition toured New Zealand. The international presence expanded to include Mexico City, Mexico; Spain; Vancouver, Canada; Hong Kong; and Korea (4th Asian Grand Watercolour Festival, Busan Biennale). The founding members were J. Bennett,
Alfred James Daplyn,
Albert Henry Fullwood,
Benjamin Edwin Minns,
Martin Stainforth and Charles Ephraim Smith Tindall. Invited foundation members included
Albert Collins, John Eldershaw,
Hans Heysen,
Norman Lindsay,
Sydney Long,
Arthur Streeton, John D Moore,
J. W. Tristram and
Blamire Young. Past presidents include
George Duncan and
Hal Missingham. Other notable members include
Ronald Steuart, winner of the 1958
Wynne Prize, and
Robert Wade, winner of the 1986 "Advance Australia Medal" for outstanding contribution to Australian watercolour. While membership was by invitation, it was not a requirement for exhibiting at the annual exhibition, such as the example of Heysen.
Jean Isherwood's first exhibited work with the AWI in 1934 was a small painting, but thereafter, she became a frequent exhibitor in major art exhibitions. In 2006, ten percent of the membership were recipients of honours awarded by the Australian state (
Australia Honours). ==Publications==