MRAG

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Margaret Olley

Margaret Olley and the
MRAG Collection

Margaret Olley was much loved by many and it was a sad day for MRAG when she passed away on the 26th July 2011.

MRAG was proud to have ‘Olley’ accept the honour of being a patron of Maitland Regional Art Gallery, and she delighted all who attended the grand re-opening of our gallery in August 2009, alongside our other gallery patron Ray Wilson.

There are two wonderful paintings by Margaret Olley in the MRAG Collection, we also have a number of beautiful prints. Banksias,  is a large oil on board painting by Olley from 1970 and this work was kindly donated to MRAG by William Bowmore in 1976. The other, smaller painting, Bedroom Still Life, painted in 1997, reveals a mirror reflection of Olley and a glimpse of some of the ephemera and still life subject matter, which eventually filled her home. This work made its way into the Collection with the financial assistance of the Art Gallery Society in 1998.

Margaret Olley not only supported the gallery in spirit as patron, but also in a more fiscal fashion. In 2008, Olley donated to MRAG a number of limited edition, multi-plate, coloured etchings, some to join the collection and others for MRAG to raise funds at auction to support the gallery. The etchings are beautiful reproductions of her still life paintings of flowers, fruit and blue and white china. [The blue and white china in these prints remind me of my own moment with Margaret Olley; when she first arrived at MRAG for our grand opening event, Olley left everyone waiting as she was distracted by the blue and white china in our new shop. She eventually purchased half the items in the cabinet – all for future paintings no doubt!].

Olley was also well known as a great supporter of other artists and would purchase works by emerging artists then gift them to public galleries.  Olley donated the Cressida Campbell wood block painting, Oblique View, to the MRAG Collection as a gift at the grand opening. Later that year she assisted MRAG purchase a large Nicholas Harding work on paper, River figures (paddle and hat). An interesting connection, as MRAG was gifted a Nicholas Harding portrait of Margaret Olley, donated to the gallery by Geoff and Vicki Ainsworth the same year.

Vale Margaret Olley AO AC

Margaret Olley, Bedroom Still Life, 1997, Oil on board, 61 x 91cm

Margaret Olley, Bedroom Still Life, 1997, Oil on board, 61 x 91cm.

 

Margaret Olley, Yellow Tablecloth with Cornflowers, 2008, Multi-plate coloured etching, Ed A/P,65.2 x 59.5cm

Margaret Olley, Yellow Tablecloth with Cornflowers, 2008, Multi-plate coloured etching, Ed A/P,65.2 x 59.5cm

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  • Gallery Details

    Art Gallery & Shop Trading Hours
    Tuesday – Sunday, 10.00am – 5.00pm

    Address 230 High Street,
    PO Box 220 Maitland NSW 2320
    Phone 02 4934 9859
    Email artgallery@nullmaitland.nsw.gov.au

    Café Seraphine
    Tuesday – Sunday, 8.00am – 3.00pm
    Phone
    02 4934 7264

    We acknowledge the Wonnarua People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land upon which MRAG stands.

  • Maitland City Council Maitland City Council
    Maitland Regional Art Gallery is a service of Maitland City Council and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
  • Visit Us
    • How to get here
    • Café
    • Shop
    • Venue hire
  • Exhibitions
    • Current & Future Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • The Art Factory
    • Exhibition proposals
  • What’s On
    • All Events
    • For Adults
    • For Kids
    • Past Events
  • MRAG from Home
    • See: at home
    • Make: at home
    • Do: at home
  • Learn
    • Creative Learning
    • Schools
    • Collection
  • Support Us
    • Become a member
    • MRAGM committee
    • Artel magazine
    • MRAG volunteers
    • Sponsors, Patrons, Partners & Donors
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Contacts
    • Awards
    • #mymaitland
    • Using this website
  • Feedback
  • Join our e-lists
  • Become a member

© Maitland Regional Art Gallery 2021