About | Olsen Gallery Sydney

OLSEN gallery was established in 1993 and exhibits a broad spectrum of Australian and international art, in the gallery, online, and at art fairs.

Gallery founder and director Tim Olsen has cultivated a stable of artists that he feels presents a comprehensive and poignant view of the contemporary arts in Australia. With a continually changing exhibition calendar we showcase the work of both emerging and established artists. We have nurtured the careers of artists from their first exhibition out of art school and proudly see them now as leading lights in the Australian art scene.

Foremost in the gallery's stable is the late John Olsen, who is today regarded as one of Australia's most esteemed artists. In addition to the staging of countless critically acclaimed exhibitions the gallery has hosted the launch of many books devoted to his unique and ingenious art making. Tim has also negotiated the sale of some of the most significant paintings in Olsen's oeuvre to both private and institutional collections. Tim's enthusiasm for curated projects has inspired the designated ANNEXE space, which now resides directly behind the main gallery at 74 Queen Street, Woollahra.
With a definite focus on the work of Australian artists, we are actively fostering a dialogue between Australian art and our international colleagues with exhibitions of leading contemporary artists from Europe, Asia and America being planned for the coming years.

In 2017 we opened a space in New York situated in the lively lower east side, as a space for both Australian and international contemporary artists. OLSEN Gallery NYC is operating temporarily online only.

In 2024 OLSEN began a partnership with Brett Ballard called 63Jersey. Brett was the former Head of Art at Menzies Art Brands, Sydney and before that an extended period as a Senior Specialist, Art with Sotheby's Australia (now Smith & Singer). 63Jersey works closely with clients consulting on collection management and the buying and selling of art in the secondary market.

63 Jersey Road Woollahra,
Sydney, NSW 2025 Australia

Tim Olsen born 6th May 1962.
B.A (vis arts) UNSW. Dip. Arts, National art school.

Tim Olsen is a well-regarded figure in the Australian art world and a successful gallery owner. The son of renowned artist John Olsen, A.O. O.B.E., Tim grew up immersed in the world of modern and contemporary art.

In 1993, he opened his own gallery, which has grown to become one of Sydney’s leading art spaces. Over the years, he has played an active role in supporting both established and emerging Australian artists, many of whom are now prominent figures in the national art scene. In 2017, he expanded his efforts internationally by opening OlsenGruin in New York, helping introduce Australian artists to a global audience.

Tim continues to represent a number of significant Australian artists and estates, including those of John Olsen, Fred Williams, James Gleeson, and William Delafield-Cook.

Beyond his work as a gallerist, Tim has contributed significantly to the broader arts community. He has been a foundation member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with a particular interest in its conservation department, and is a major donor to Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art. He has supported a range of educational and philanthropic initiatives, including the King's School Art Prize, the Tim Olsen Drawing Prize at UNSW, and the John Olsen Family Drawing Prize at the National Art School. He has also sponsored a studio space at Artspace, Woolloomooloo, and has served on the University of New South Wales Foundation Board for over 15 years.

His support extends to public collections, where he has donated important works, including Cherry Hood’s Archibald-winning portrait of Simon Tedeschi to the National Portrait Gallery, and John Olsen’s Self Portrait as Janus to the Art Gallery of NSW.

In 2020, he published his memoir Son of the Brush, which explores his personal and professional journey during a formative time in Australian art history. His continued involvement in the arts—through leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy—reflects a lifelong commitment to the cultural life of Australia.

About the Book