The prolific Margaret Hannah Olley AC (24 June 1923 – 26 July 2011) was a major contributor to Australian art with her uplifting works. Margaret was the subject of more than 90 solo exhibitions through her work that concentrated largely on still life.
In 1997 a major retrospective of her work was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and in July 2006 Olley donated more than 130 works to the Art Gallery of New South Wales worth more than $7 million.
Olley died at her home in Paddington in July 2011, aged 88.
Her estate was recently sold and at the moment the Gray’s Online auction site is auctioning some of her studio paraphernalia including paints, implements and still life objects as seen here
I also believe that the curators at Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah are planning the recreation of Olley’s studio there later this year.
Having no affiliation with any gallery or group, it seems sad to see Olley’s belongings auctioned off,irrespective of where the funds go. I wonder if members of the public interested in preserving the work of Margaret Olley could purchase objects and donate them to the Tweed River Gallery or any other institution that could preserve these items, much the same was Francis Bacon’s 7 Reece Mews studio has been recreated?