Margaret Olley‎

A much-loved and vibrant personality of the Australian art world for over 60 years, Margaret Olley exerted an enduring influence not only as a remarkably talented artist, but as a nurturing mentor, inspirational muse and generous philanthropist. Steadfastly devoted to the humble still life, Olley turned repeatedly to the quotidian for inspiration, excavating her domestic setting to uncover the beauty inherent in everyday life. She orchestrated the objects in her paintings as characters on a stage, arranging and rearranging them with meticulous care, a practice inspired by her early experience working in theatre. Paying homage to the great European masters of her métier such as Vermeer, Bonnard, Matisse and Cézanne, her compositions led the viewer through intimate, deeply personal dramas resonant with warmth and light.

Awarded an Order of Australia in 1991 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2006, Olley was the subject of two Archibald Prize winning portraits, by William Dobell in 1948 and Ben Quilty in 2011. She was honoured with over 90 solo exhibitions during her lifetime, and today her work is held in all major state and regional galleries in Australia. The contents of her beloved Paddington studio have been immortalised in a permanent installation at the Tweed Regional Gallery in northern New South Wales.