'The Artist's Garden' | Bernard Ollis

12^th May – 12^th June 2021

Memories of travel and the gardens of Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir have formed the inspiration for a new exhibition by Sydney based artist Bernard Ollis.

In his typical whimsical style Ollis has produced artworks of lush, kaleidoscopic renditions of gardens of artists from all over the world as well as his own.  

Confined to his home Ollis spent many hours in his backyard recalling the numerous artists gardens and studios he has visited during his lifetime – Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh - encouraged by artists that had been inspired by nature in their own work.

As an artist and teacher, Bernard Ollis has acted as a tour guide to students with visits to the many of the studios and gardens portrayed in his paintings.

“My paintings are not picture postcards, or the social media equivalent, but personal and original interpretations of special environments.” says Ollis.

Primarily a figurative artist Ollis’ interest lies with the human form; the everyday lives of people, what environment they create and inhabit, however in this exhibition it is nature that has formed the inspiration.

With a career spanning over 50 years Bernard Ollis is the former Director of the National Art School and has had a constant stream of successful exhibitions. His work has been acquired in collections such as the National Art Gallery of Australia, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Queensland Art Gallery, and the Royal College of Art UK.

Throughout his career Bernard Ollis has been selected several times for prestigious Australian Art Prizes including the Sulman Art Prize, the Dobell Art Prize and the Salon des Refuses.

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