Margaret Olley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Olley
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Margaret Olley in August 2009
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| Born |
Margaret Hannah Olley
24 June 1923 Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
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| Died | 26 July 2011 (aged 88) Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | East Sydney Technical College |
| Known for | Painting |
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Notable work
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Still life with pink fish (1948), AGNSW |
| Awards | Mosman Art Prize (1947) |
Margaret_Olley_house_Paddington.jpg)
Margaret Hannah Olley (24 June 1923 – 26 July 2011) was a famous Australian painter. She was known for her bright and colourful paintings, especially of still life subjects. Margaret held over ninety solo art shows during her long career.
Contents
Early Life and Art Passion
Margaret Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales. She was the oldest of three children. Her family moved around a bit when she was young. In 1925, they moved to Tully, Queensland. Margaret even went to boarding school in Townsville in 1929.
When she was in high school in Brisbane, Margaret was very focused on art. She loved it so much that she dropped a French class. This was so she could take an extra art lesson with her teacher, Caroline Barker.
In 1941, Margaret started art classes at Brisbane Central Technical College. She then moved to Sydney in 1943. There, she studied for an Art Diploma at East Sydney Technical College. She finished with top honours in 1945.
A Career in Colour
Margaret Olley loved to paint still life pictures. These are paintings of objects like fruit, flowers, or household items. She was also famous for her amazing use of colour.
Her paintings were very popular. In 1962, one of her shows in Brisbane sold out completely. This showed how much people loved her art.
In 1997, a big show of her work was put together. It was held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Margaret also won the first ever Mosman Art Prize in 1947.
Newcastle Connection
In 1965, Margaret Olley moved to Newcastle, New South Wales. While living there, she painted 23 pictures of the city and its waterfront. These were called the 'Newcastle Watercolours'.
Margaret really loved Newcastle. She even bought several houses there and in nearby East Maitland. This started a long connection with the city. Newcastle became a big influence on her artwork. You can find many of her paintings in galleries and universities in the Newcastle area.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Margaret Olley was also very generous. She loved to support the arts. On 13 July 2006, she gave many artworks to the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her donations included over 130 works. These paintings were worth about $7 million.
Awards and Recognitions
Margaret Olley was a very respected artist. She was even painted twice for the Archibald Prize. This is a famous Australian art award for portraits.
- In 1948, William Dobell painted her. She wore a wedding dress made from parachute silk!
- In 2011, Ben Quilty painted her. He won the Archibald Prize for this portrait.
Many of her artist friends also painted her. These included Russell Drysdale and Danelle Bergstrom.
Margaret received some of Australia's highest awards:
- In 1991, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. This was for her work as an artist and for helping promote art.
- In 2006, she received Australia's top civilian honour. She became a Companion of the Order of Australia. This was for being a great artist and for supporting the visual and performing arts. She also encouraged young artists.
The University of Newcastle also gave her a special award in 2006. She received an honorary degree called Doctor of Fine Arts.
Her Last Exhibition
Margaret Olley kept painting right up until she died. Her last 27 paintings were shown in an exhibition. It was called The Inner Sanctum of Margaret Olley. The show opened in March 2012.
Margaret had put the final touches on these paintings the day before she passed away. The opening night was a big event. About 350 people came, including the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce. She said that Margaret's art was "filled with optimism."
Passing Away
Margaret Olley died at her home in Paddington, New South Wales in July 2011. She was 88 years old. She never married and did not have any children.
Lasting Legacy
Wendy_Whiteleys_Garden_022.jpg)
After Margaret's death, the Art Gallery of New South Wales bought a painting. It was called Nasturtiums by E. Phillips Fox. They bought it to remember her.
Margaret's ideas about art were written down in a book. It was based on conversations she had with author Barry Pearce. The book came out the year she died.
One of the most special parts of her legacy is her home. Margaret's house in Paddington was famous. It was filled with objects she collected. She used these items as subjects for her paintings. It was like a giant artwork itself!
Part of her Paddington house has been recreated. You can see it at the Tweed River Art Gallery. This gallery is near where Margaret was born. The new Margaret Olley Centre is very true to her original home.
A documentary film was also made about her. It is called Margaret Olley – A Life in Paint. The film shows Margaret as she painted her last works. It also explores her artistic style and passion. Other artists and curators share their thoughts on her work.
Images for kids
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Margaret Olley in August 2009
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Olley's home in Paddington
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Hibiscus in flower in front yard of her Paddington home, March 2014
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Antique fountain originally in Margaret Olley's Paddington garden, now part of Wendy Whiteley's garden at Lavender Bay
