The legacy of Margaret Olley

A NEW exhibition celebrating Margaret Olley’s life and work has opened at the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre.

Painting Life: Margaret Olley and Worksfrom the Collection features still-life paintings by Olley and works by artists inspired by her.

The exhibition features still-life paintings from the Gallery’s collection, recent acquisitions, and generous loans from private individuals.

Gallery Director Ingrid Hedgcock said the artist and the centre inspired artists locally and abroad.

“Since opening in 2014, Olley’s home studio re-creation at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre has inspired many artists who have been invited to create new work in response to the display,” Hedgcock said.

“Some people look at the re-creation and see chaos. But to her, she was collecting and keeping everything as subject matter for her paintings.”

Olley’s Duxford Street home studio in Paddington, Sydney, was her site and subject matter for nearly 50 years—an ecosystem of art and life. Its permanent re-creation at the gallery is an evocative portal into the beloved artist’s practice.

Painting Life showcases the development of the gallery’s collection and the artist’s enduring legacy, providing a thought-provoking response to the objects and rooms in which she loved to paint.

The exhibition also celebrates the legacy of Olley’s support of artists over many decades.

An exclusive program of exhibitions that stimulate the creation of new work continues the conversation about the genre of still life painting in Australia today.

The exhibition runs until 31 August 2025, alongside various complementary activities and events.

For information and tickets, visit gallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au/whats-on