Notable artist and philanthropist dies

The University of Queensland community is mourning the passing today of one of Australia’s most admired and respected artists and philanthropists Margaret Olley, AC.

Ms Olley was awarded a UQ honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1999, in recognition of her 50 years of service to the arts and philanthropic endeavours.

Lismore-born and Somerville House educated Ms Olley was best known for painting still lifes and interiors of her own house and landscapes.

She was the subject of two Archibald Prize-winning portraits (by William Dobell in 1949 and Ben Quilty in 2011) and was also a popular portrait subject for artists including Margaret Cilento, Russell Drysdale and Donald Friend.

Her many honours included being awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia, in 2006 for service as one of Australia's most distinguished artists, for philanthropy to the arts, and for encouragement of young and emerging artists.

University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said that there “will never be another Margaret Olley.”

“Although tiny in physical stature, she was a towering figure in Australian art, philanthropy, and cultural and public life,” he said.

“The UQ Art Museum is one of the many institutions that she enriched with her generosity, her vision, her daring.

“Among other things, Margaret sponsored the inaugural UQ National Artists’ Self-Portrait Prize in 2007, and gifted the winning painting, by Ben Quilty, to the University.

“Poetically, she became Ben’s subject for the portrait that won him the 2011 Archibald Prize.

“Visitors to our Art Museum adored Margaret and her art. The exhibition Margaret Olley: Life’s journey, set new attendance records here in 2009.

“Generations of artists, arts administrators and art lovers will be saddened by her death.

“However we will never really lose her, because Margaret Olley lives on in her art, through the younger artists she mentored, and in her extraordinary portfolio of gifts to galleries and museums all over the country.”