Alan Jones wins the Mosman Art Prize
July 2015Olsen Irwin artist Alan Jones has been awarded the coveted Mosman Art Prize. The Mosman Art Prize is the longest continuously running municipal art prize in Australia and has a rich tradition of fostering emerging and established artist. Painting 131 (North Coogee) won against a competitive field of 104 finalists to claim the illustrious $30,000 prize. Jones' work explores notions of identity and the human experience within the landscape. Katrina Cashman, Mosman Art Prize Coordinator & Senior Curator, commented on Jones' work.
"Alan Jones is one of the most interesting artists of his generation and his artwork Painting 131 (North Coogee) will make a very strong statement within the Mosman Art Collection."Olsen Irwin is incredibly proud of Alan's achievement and is looking forward to his upcoming show Paintings from Coogee 26 August - 13 September 2015. The Mosman Art prize runs from the 25th of July to the 30th of August and is free. There is also a meet the artist public program from 3-4pm on Sunday 16th of August. If you're interested to see more works of Alan Jones's please see our stockroom
TURN TURN TURN: The Studio Ceramics Tradition at the National Art School
July 2015TURN TURN TURN celebrates many of the key styles and movements that evolved over 60 years in the studios of the internationally renowned ceramics course at the National Art School. Curated by Glenn Barkley. The exhibition has a focus group of twelve artists whose work represents a diversity of ceramics production at NAS, and by NAS graduates, across more than six decades of education and creative production. The artists include Stephen Bird, Louise Boscacci, Lynda Draper, Merran Esson, Steve Harrison, Patsy Hely, Juz Kitson, Janet Mansfield, Alan Peascod, Peter Rushforth AM, Thancoupie Gloria Fletcher Jones AO and Toni Warburton. The Exhibition also features the works of another 50 artists with connections to the NAS. Olsen Irwin's own Brett Stone is a notable feature with his Staged Stack making mention in the the Australian's review of the exhibition. The Exhibition runs until August 8th Â
Elissa Blake
May 26 2015
When the painter meets the musician this week at the Vivid Sydney festival, it will be a meeting of the senses.
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Frank Field
13 May 2015
Delafield Cook's name was put firmly on the British art map when Elton John bought almost an entire show.
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Rose Powell
May 2015
Julian Meagher's latest exhibition is oddly contemplative for a painted study of masculinity and Australia's drinking culture, especially by someone whose main training was in medicine.
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Camilla Wagstaff
May 2015
On the back of a sell out show at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, Julian Meagher returns to his hometime of Sydney for his debut exhibition at Olsen Irwin, Drinking with the other Sun.
The exhibition extends on notions of ritual, identity and masculinity from previous bodies of work, exploring Australian identity and its emergence from imperial roots. A suite of still lifes feature robust native fauna juxtaposed by delicate images of the English rose - pointing to the British influence of our national identity- set in intricate compositions of meticulously arranged, reclaimed glass bottles.
The still lives are couples with portraits of the decedents of key figures in Australian history. Meagher’s soft, intimate approach to these works probes notions of personal versus collecting history and inheritance.
Meagher originally trained as a doctor, choosing to leave the world of medicine to pursue a career in art following a period of study in Florence. His unique watercolour- esque style somewhat reflects the traditional oil portraiture techniques he learned at this time; he applied multiple thin glazes over many sittings. One can see elements of his original training too, in his precise execution and a careful, specimen-like treatment of his subjects.
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Justin Burke
April 11-12th 2015
‘I have never feared failure,” says Anh Do, glancing up at one of his thick-layered paintings in his studio on the NSW south coast. “My father took us from Vietnam across to Australia — 40 people on a 9m-long fishing boat — and if he failed, 40 people including his wife and two baby children are dead. So I ask myself: if I fail at painting, are 40 people going to die? No? Then just move forward and have a go.”
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Andrew Taylor
April 9 2015
With a portrait in last year's Archibald Prize exhibition and as a finalist in several other art shows, Anh Do's artistic credentials would seem to be beyond doubt.
But Do's gallery dealer Rex Irwin has been a tough judge to please.
"He came before last year's Archibald and he looked at all the work and he went 'This is pretty much all not good enough'," Do says. "And I said 'What about that one? That's my dad and I'm going to put him in the Archibald' and he said 'No, not very good'."
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Owen Craven
19/2/15
Sophie Cape is a former professional athlete who retired from competitive sport ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to injury. She dabbled in art from a young age – inspired by her artist grandmother (Gwenna Thatcher) and mother (Ann Cape) – but it was when her sporting career came to an abrupt end that her art making became the perfect outlet for her restless, athletic energy and her love of being outdoors. Cape immerses herself physically and emotionally into the landscape. It’s here that she has discovered and developed her unique visual language, making large-scale, visceral artworks composed predominately outside, on the ground in seclusion.
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Harry Roberts
Feb 6 2015
Life works. Blood, sweat and tears are embodied in the creations of every one of these visionary artists.
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Lachlan Bennett
05/02/15
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Sasha Grishin
Jan 7 2015
Curator's Radar
Our writers look at those artists who are currently attracting curatorial interest from public institutions through inclusion in exhibitions or major acquisitions.
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Guy Warren
At the age of 94, artist Guy Warren still paints and draws several days a week. Interviewed in his Leichhardt studio, the Archibald winning painter reflects on a 75 year career.
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Guy Warren New Paintings
LATELINE: John Olsen returns to his hometown, Newcastle
Now at the age of 88, John Olsen has gone home. Arguably Australia's most successful living artist, he is back in the city of Newcastle where he grew up during the Depression. To honour the memories of his early life, he is about to embark on one of his most significant works. It is set to rival his acclaimed 'Salute To Five Bells' mural at the Sydney Opera House.
Philippa McDonald joined John Olsen on his nostalgic return to the Hunter.
Jerry Saltz
December 2014
For me, Instagram is a land of the midnight sun, a wide-open place that's always lit up, bristling with visions, pictures, strangers, shooting stars, screwballs, and well-known artists posting images from everywhere, together creating this immense abstract missive or amazing rebus that seems to speak just to me, the curious curator of my own lit-up Instagramland. Strangest in this strange land is that 123,000 people now follow me. Or are following their idea of me: New York Magazine's art critic acting out in pictures online.
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Alphachanneling (Summer Show)
Leila Jeffreys | Australian Geographic
September 2014Leila Jeffreys' photography features on the cover of the Australian Geographic March-April 2014 issue. The work will be part of Jeffreys' upcoming Olsen Irwin exhibition Native Australian Birds of Prey in September 2014. Pictured in the work is a wedge-tailed eagle named Soren, belonging to Paul Mander, a licensed raptor trainer and owner of Broadwings, a center dedicated to the conservation of raptors in Australia. Jeffrey's has worked closely with Mander over the past year and a half in preparation for the upcoming exhibition.
Leila Jeffreys | Interview With Yellowtrace
September 2014Online design publication Yellwtrace have recently featured Leila Jeffreys on their website with an interview. Leila talks about the personal significance of her practice as well as some of the ideas behind her latest exhibition Prey, currently on show at Olsen Irwin.
"Prey is a celebration of what makes Australia special and is a reminder that one of our biggest assets soars in the skies above us." - Leila Jeffreys
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Leila Jeffreys | Feature Shoot
2014Leila Jeffreys' photographs have been covered on Feature Shoot, a blog that showcases the work of international emerging and established innovative photographers. The article identifies the artist's childhood as a significant influence on her practice today, Leila having grown up in Papua New Guinea, India and Australia, and always surrounded by wildlife. To read the article click here. You can still view Leila's latest exhibition Prey, on display at Olsen Irwin until the 28th of September.
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Nicholas Harding | Art Collector
July 2014Nicholas Harding has been featured in Art Collector's Under 5K, an annual presentation of works by established artists that are available for less than $5,000. Included in the mix are Nicholas Harding's watercolour works completed during a residency in Paris and etchings produced for his recent exhibition at Olsen Irwin Drawing Godot. Olsen Irwin director Rex Irwin talks of Hardings etchings of the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Waiting for Godot as, 'Far more exciting than a photo, they capture the immediacy of the drama and sit comfortably in the pantheon of great artists such as Degas, Lautrec and Hockney who worked from life studying performers both on and off stage.'Â Â
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Nicholas Harding | Arcadia, Sound Of The Sea Exhibition
September 2014A number of works by Nicholas Harding make up part of Arcadia, Sound Of The Sea, a new exhibition centered around the astonishing beauty and formidable power of the sea. Harding's ink drawings combine with photography and old film footage to paint a romantic picture of the young, free-spirited people who were a part of Australian surf culture in the 70's and their interaction with the nature around them. Arcadia, Sound Of The Sea: National Portrait Gallery 14 August - 19 October 2014 Geelong Gallery 29 November 2014 - 22 February 2015 Tweed River Art Gallery 2 October - 15 November 2015
Image:Nicholas Harding, 'Diggers Scrub (Figures, Board and Bottle)', 2014, ink on paper, 164 x 153cm
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