BETTY CHURCHER (1931–2015)

The former director of the National Gallery of Australia, Betty Churcher has passed away, according to Artnet’s Zoe Li. Churcher started out as director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, then later became the first woman director of the National Gallery of Australia.

Her knack for organizing appealing shows that drew hundreds of thousands of visitors earned her the nickname “Betty Blockbuster.” The host of a number of television shows in the 1990s, she also wrote books such as The Art of War(2005), about war artists.

National Gallery director Gerard Vaughan told The Australian: “Betty was a towering figure in the Australian art community and loved by so many.”