‘For Margaret Olley, painting was like breathing. It was part of her existence.’1
Margret Olley is a renowned Australian artist who is particularly known for her intimate and personal paintings, which are a clear reflection of her immediate world. Her paintings have an air of nostalgia, encouraging viewers to reflect inwardly whilst also pondering the artist behind the painting.
Olley devoted her life to her art, right up until she died at the age of eighty-eight in 2011.2 Australian audiences adored her, not only for her art, but also for her personality, commitment to the Australian culture, philanthropy, mentorships, and famous dinner table soirees. When we mention Margaret Olley, her beautiful still life paintings come to mind. Her work is not particularly adventurous.3 It could possibly be dismissed as nostalgic by some, as she was not necessarily pushing the boundaries of art. So why has her work been cemented in Australian cultural history? It is the integrity of her vision. Her life was about sustaining an idea, and that was capturing something extraordinary in the ordinary.4 Her career saw dramatic changes in the art world, most notably the rise of conceptual art, but she persisted in her own style. It was, as the title of Olley’s retrospective exhibition in 2013 suggests, ‘all about the light’. She had a symbiotic relationship with her home; its contents provided endless possibilities for her compositions. Her paintings were exuberant, colourful, full of life. Her studio was the creative platform for these beautifully delicate works.
The importance of this vital connection between Olley’s studio and her paintings is demonstrated beautifully in the Margaret Olley Art Centre (MOAC). The MOAC is a... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
View into the re-creation of Margaret Olley’s home studio, Margaret Olley Art Centre. Photograph Justin Ealand. Courtesy Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.
