Margaret Olley
Encyclopedia
Margaret Hannah Olley AC (24 June 192326 July 2011) was an Australia
n painter. She was the subject of more than 90 solo exhibitions.
Margaret Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales
. She attended Somerville House
in Brisbane
during her high school years. She was so focused on art that she dropped one French class in order to take another art lesson.
Her work concentrated on still life
. In 1997 a major retrospective of her work was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales
. She received the inaugural Mosman Art Prize
in 1947.
On 13 July 2006 she donated more works to the Art Gallery of New South Wales; her donations included more than 130 works worth $7 million.
Olley died at her home in Paddington
in July 2011, aged 88. She never married and had no children.
winning painting; the first by William Dobell
in 1948 and the other by Ben Quilty
in 2011. She was also the subject of paintings by many of her artist friends, including Russell Drysdale
.
On 10 June 1991, in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, Olley was made a Member of the Order of Australia
'for service as an artist and to the promotion of art'. On 12 June 2006, she was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order, 'for service as one of Australia's most distinguished artists, for support and philanthropy to the visual and performing arts, and for encouragement of young and emerging artists'.
In 2006, Olley was awarded the degree Doctor of Fine Arts
honoris causa
by the University of Newcastle
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n painter. She was the subject of more than 90 solo exhibitions.
Margaret Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
. She attended Somerville House
Somerville House
Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
during her high school years. She was so focused on art that she dropped one French class in order to take another art lesson.
Her work concentrated on still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
. In 1997 a major retrospective of her work was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
. She received the inaugural Mosman Art Prize
Mosman art prize
Mosman art prize is an art award in Australia held in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney. It has been running since 1947.- List of winners :*Margaret Olley won the inaugural Mosman art prize in 1947*Tom Gleghorn 1958*Henry Salkauskas 1963, 1964, 1965...
in 1947.
On 13 July 2006 she donated more works to the Art Gallery of New South Wales; her donations included more than 130 works worth $7 million.
Olley died at her home in Paddington
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
in July 2011, aged 88. She never married and had no children.
Tributes and Honours
Olley was twice the subject of an Archibald PrizeArchibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
winning painting; the first by William Dobell
William Dobell
Sir William Dobell, OBE was an Australian artist .The electoral Division of Dobell is named after him.- Life :...
in 1948 and the other by Ben Quilty
Ben Quilty
Ben Quilty is an Australian artist who won the 2011 Archibald Prize.-Biography:Quilty grew up in Kenthurst in Sydney's north-west. He lives and works in Robertson, New South Wales. He is a graduate of the Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney...
in 2011. She was also the subject of paintings by many of her artist friends, including Russell Drysdale
Russell Drysdale
Sir George Russell Drysdale, AC was an Australian artist. He won the prestigious Wynne Prize for Sofala in 1947, and represented Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1954...
.
On 10 June 1991, in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, Olley was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
'for service as an artist and to the promotion of art'. On 12 June 2006, she was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order, 'for service as one of Australia's most distinguished artists, for support and philanthropy to the visual and performing arts, and for encouragement of young and emerging artists'.
In 2006, Olley was awarded the degree Doctor of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts
Doctor of Fine Arts is doctoral degree in fine arts, typically given as an honorary degree . The degree is typically conferred to honor the recipient who has made a contribution to society in the arts...
honoris causa
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by the University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
.
External links
- Phillip Bacon Galleries, Margaret Olley: Biographical notes
- Margaret Olley: Biography
- Margaret Olley Australian Government Cultural and Recreational Portal (Retrieved 23-July-2007)
- Tyranny of the tape recorder by Brenda Niall ABR of Margaret Olley: Far from a Still Life by Meg Stewart
- Margaret Olley & Donald Friend, 21 January – 19 March 2006 S H Ervin Gallery (Retrieved 23-July-2007)
- Margaret Olley review by Grafico Topico's Sue Smith
- Obituary of Margaret Olley, The Daily Telegraph, 31 July, 2011
- Design and Art Australia Online Biographical Record