John Olsen’s Followers (1)

John Olsen

Born

in Newcastle, NSW, Australia

January 21, 1928

Died

April 11, 2023

Genre

Art, Memoir

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John Henry Olsen AO OBE (21 January 1928 – 11 April 2023) was an Australian artist and winner of the 2005 Archibald Prize. Olsen's primary subject of work was landscape.

One of Olsen's most successful murals, Salute to Five Bells, is currently in the Sydney Opera House. Although he has been labeled as an abstract artist, Olsen rejected this label, stating, "I have never painted an abstract painting in my life". He described his work as "an exploration of the totality of landscape". Olsen published his diaries, under the title 'Drawn From Life', in 1997. Olsen's book My Salute to Five Bells which contains the artist's thoughts, diary entries and his original drawing for the work, was published by the National Library of Australia in 2015.

Olse John Henry Olsen AO OBE (21 January 1928 – 11 April 2023) was an Australian artist and winner of the 2005 Archibald Prize. Olsen's primary subject of work was landscape.

One of Olsen's most successful murals, Salute to Five Bells, is currently in the Sydney Opera House. Although he has been labeled as an abstract artist, Olsen rejected this label, stating, "I have never painted an abstract painting in my life". He described his work as "an exploration of the totality of landscape". Olsen published his diaries, under the title 'Drawn From Life', in 1997. Olsen's book My Salute to Five Bells which contains the artist's thoughts, diary entries and his original drawing for the work, was published by the National Library of Australia in 2015.

Olsen is well known for his paintings of frogs and for including frogs in many of his works. In 2013, he began work on his largest painting since Salute to Five Bells. Eight metres by six metres wide, on eight panels, The King Sun was hung in Collins Square in the Melbourne Docklands. The work depicts a brilliant Australian sun (including three frogs). Olsen and his work on the mural are the subject of 2014 documentary The King Sun.

In Australia's New Year's Honours of 1977, Olsen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in 1993 he was awarded an Australian Creative Fellowship and in the Australia Day Honours of 2001 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. He was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001.

He was awarded the Wynne Prize in both 1969 for 'The Chasing Bird Landscape' (1969) and 1985 for 'A Road to Clarendon: Autumn' (1985). In 1989, Olsen won the Sulman (the Sir John Sulman Prize) with his work "Don Quixote enters the Inn"

He won the 2005 Archibald Prize for his portrait Self portrait Janus Faced.

Olsen's works have been exhibited at numerous solo and group shows across Australia and internationally.

Olsen's work is represented in all Australian state gallery collections (the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 131 works), the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and regional galleries Australia wide. Including Newcastle Art Gallery which holds several important works. - Wikipedia
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Average rating: 4.23 · 30 ratings · 10 reviews · 15 distinct works

	Drawn from Life 3.93 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1997 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Salute to Five Bells 4.63 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 1973	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Land Beyond Time: A Modern Exploration of Australia's North-West Frontiers by John Olsen, Mary Durack, Geoffrey Dutton 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	John Olsen: Journeys Into the "You Beaut" Country by Jenny Zimmer, John Olsen, Ken McGregor it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2007 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Complete Graphics 1957-1979 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1980	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Det er den barske sandhed: Fra barndom hos bedsteforældre på landet til læreår og selvstændig i København (Erindringsserien "Folk fortæller") really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1995	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The land beyond time, paintings and drawings 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1984	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Salute to five bells: John Olsen's Opera House journal 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	John Olsen by John Olsen, Mikael Wivel 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	John Olsen: Selected graphics : 20 April-29 May 1983, the Art Gallery of Western Australia 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1983	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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