Margaret Olley: Painter, Peer, Mentor, Muse

A celebration of the Australian painter's work and legacy.
Jasmine Crittenden
January 13, 2017

Overview

Kick off your New Year's resolution to see more art with a visit to this massive Margaret Olley exhibition. Being held at S.H. Ervin Gallery from until March 26, it's a celebration of her 60-plus-year career, with a focus on her influences, inspirations and legacy.

Guest curator Renee Porter has selected more than 80 works. You'll get to see Olley's paintings alongside those of her mentors Caroline Barker and Jean Bellette, and those of her closest friends, including Mitty Lee-Brown, Margaret Cilento, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale, Moya Dyring, Donald Friend, Jeffrey Smart, David Strachan and Anne Weinholt. There's also a bunch of pieces by younger artists to whom Olley gave her passionate support. Among them are Robert Barnes, Criss Canning, Cressida Campbell, Nicholas Harding and Ben Quilty.

"Margaret was a frequent visitor and supporter of the Gallery and in this show we wanted to present the spirit and vigour of this grand woman in Australian art," said Jane Watters, director at S.H. Ervin. "In many ways the show completes the circle of her championing the talents of her peers and friends which she undertook with such vivacity throughout her life."

Margaret Olley: painter, peer, mentor, muse is the first exhibition in the three-show Margaret Olley Series, supported by the Margaret Olley Art Trust.

Image: Margaret Olley, Portrait in the mirror (1948), oil on canvas, AGNSW.

Information

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