Margaret Olley magic

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Tags: Arts, UQ Art Museum, winter-2009

A sketch from Margaret Olley: Life's Journey

Fans of Margaret Olley were in for a treat when they visited the UQ Art Museum earlier this year.

Running from February 6 until April 19 before opening in Sydney and Newcastle, Margaret Olley: Life’s journey traced the many places the artist has lived and worked over the years, from romantic Paris to the remote and exotic New Guinea highlands.

The exhibition included more than 80 pieces drawn from public and private collections, as well as the artist’s own, and provided a unique look at Ms Olley’s celebrated career.

Museum director Nick Mitzevich said the artist’s popularity in Australia was immense, and a record 10,831 visitors had enjoyed the exhibition during its time at UQ.

“Her oil paintings of still life and interior subjects invariably receive enormous public attention,” Mr Mitzevich said.

“So popular is she that a huge marquee needed to be erected in front of the Art Museum for the crowd attending the official opening event with Governor-General Quentin Bryce.”

The University of Queensland awarded Ms Olley an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1999 in recognition of her 50 years of service to the arts and philanthropic endeavours.

Mr Mitzevich said assembling the show had been a colossal but enjoyable task, as his research team tracked down many works that had dropped off the art world’s radar.

“Our visitors have told us how they have been surprised and enchanted by these works, which offer such an unexpected spectrum of the artist’s experience,” he said.

“Margaret Olley herself was delighted to rediscover works also, some of which she had not seen for 60 years.”

Mr Mitzevich encouraged interested alumni to make the most of upcoming exhibitions and events by joining the museum’s mailing list.

Listen to a podcast of co-curators Nick Mitzevich and Michele Helmrich discussing the exhibition:

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Margaret Olley: Life’s journey

Sydney – National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery (8 May–28 June)

Newcastle – Newcastle Region Art Gallery (15 August–25 October)

To join the museum’s email list, contact artmuseum@uq.edu.au

By Cameron Pegg

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