Painting flowers had long been considered a feminine subject. With the examples of Marian Ellis Rowan (1848–1922) and Margaret Preston (1875 1963) behind her, Margaret Olley (1923–2011) can be seen as part of the continuing tradition. But she was more than that. Still life and interior painting were significant genres during the 1930s for both…
Continue reading » “Margaret Olley: The subject is wildflowers”
‘Jon Molvig: Maverick’, at the Queensland Art Gallery (14 September 2019 until 2 February 2020), profiles the work of an acclaimed Australian artist and charismatic teacher, whose uncompromising commitment to painting inspired a group of young artists in Brisbane. Simon Elliott spoke with some of the artist’s former students about their mentor. An intensely complicated…
Ian Fairweather’s cryptically titled painting MO, PB and the ti-tree was first exhibited, though not for sale, at the Macquarie Galleries, Sydney in 1965, in an acclaimed exhibition that highlighted works from the ‘Drunken Buddha’ series, as well as other recent paintings. A beautiful fabric of planes [that] tremble and fluctuate, support or oppose the…
Continue reading » “Ian Fairweather commemorates Margaret Olley’s visit to Bribie Island”
Margaret Olley, towards the end of her life, became one of the most affectionately regarded of Australian artists. Her still life and interior paintings attracted wide appreciation by the public. Although she produced landscapes and townscapes in the early part of her career, interiors and flower studies effectively dominated her production. Visit the Gallery of…
Continue reading » “Margaret Olley: The subject is garden flowers”
Across three Saturdays in July, QAGOMA hosted the Australian Art Course 2019. Presented by Angela Goddard, Director, Griffith University Art Museum, the course offered a thought-provoking look at aspects of Australian art history with QAGOMA’s Australian Art Collection as a guide and point of departure. Goddard offered a unique perspective on the Collection, exploring the…
Renowned Queensland still-life painter John Honeywill is the first artist in the Gallery’s new Open Studio initiative at the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG). We spoke with the artist about the meaning objects bring to our lives, how he creates drama through juxtaposition, and his resolve to paint beautiful things. Related: Watch Open Studio videos Related:…