John Olsen b. 21 January 1928

Also known as John Henry Olsen
  • Artist (Painter),
  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator),
  • Designer ,
  • Artist (Ceramist)
John Olsen's exuberant paintings, which were first exhibited in Sydney in the 1950s, are often celebrations of Sydney, Majorca, marine life, good food and sunshine. He is an abstract artist whose work remains grounded in the landscape or in evocations of poetry, a painter whose distinctive curvilinear style continually pays homage to the quality of a wanderingline.
Tags: Sydney abstraction, Art and food, Archibald Prize
You are viewing the version of bio from Sept. 1, 2023, 12:38 p.m. , as edited by James McArdle (moderator approved).
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spouse of
Mary Flower
Other occupation
Olsen's first wife
friend of
Robert Klippel
1920
Artist (Sculptor)
friend of
William Rose
1929
Artist (Painter)
friend of
Eric Smith
1919
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Colin Lanceley
1938
Artist (Painter), Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Mixed Media Artist), Artist (Sculptor)
associate of
John Perceval
1923
Artist (Painter), Artist (Ceramist)
associate of
Arthur Boyd
1920
Artist (Painter), Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Sculptor), Artist (Printmaker)
friend of
Clifton Pugh
1924
Artist
associate of
John Howley
Artist
associate of
Mirka Madeleine Mora
1928
Artist (Textile Artist / Fashion Designer), Artist (Painter), Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Ceramist)
friend of
Russell Drysdale
1912
Artist (Painter), Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Photographer)
spouse of
Valerie Strong
Artist (Painter)
Olsen's second Wife
parent of
Jane Olsen
Other occupation
Child of Olsen's first marriage
parent of
Tim Olsen
Curator
Child of Olsen's second marriage
parent of
Louise Olsen
Designer (Jewellery Designer), Maker
Child of Olsen's second marriage
associate of
Fred Williams
1927
Artist (Painter), Artist (Printmaker)
spouse of
Noela Jane Hjorth
1940
Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Painter)
Olsen's third wife
spouse of
Katherine Howard
Other occupation
Olsen's fourth wife
associate of
Tim Storrier
1949
Artist
associate of
Robert Hughes
1938
Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator), Artist (Painter)
associate of
Len Hessing
Artist
associate of
Jean Mary Bellette
1909
Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Painter)
associate of
Virginia Cuppaidge
1943
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Julius Bokor
1943
Designer (Architect / Interior Architect / Landscape Architect), Architect (Architect / Interior Architect / Landscape Architect), Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Painter)
associate of
Donald Friend
1915
Artist (Painter), Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
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Date modified Sept. 1, 2023, 12:38 p.m. April 12, 2023, 7:31 p.m.
Related collections
  • Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA (collected in)
  • Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, NSW (collected in)
  • Queensland Art Gallery (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA (collected in)
  • Baillieu Library Special Collections, University of Melbourne, Vic. (collected in)
  • Castlemaine Art Museum (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA (collected in)
  • Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, NSW (collected in)
  • Queensland Art Gallery (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA (collected in)
  • Baillieu Library Special Collections, University of Melbourne, Vic. (collected in)