Margaret Olley: The Queen of the Still Life and Australia's Most Beloved Painter May 20, 2026 11:03
Walk into a Margaret Olley painting and you might never want to leave. Her interiors are filled with flowers, fruit, ceramics, and colour — rooms so warmly rendered that you can almost smell the freesias and feel the afternoon light falling across the table.
Margaret Olley (1923–2011) was one of Australia's most beloved and prolific artists, and her influence on Australian art and culture is immeasurable. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she produced thousands of works — and never stopped painting, right up until the end of her life.
A Painter's Painter
Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales, and studied at the East Sydney Technical College and the Brisbane Central Technical College. She first gained public attention in 1948 when her portrait was painted by William Dobell — a work that went on to win the Archibald Prize and put both their careers into the spotlight.
But it was her own paintings that would define her legacy. Olley's still lifes are instantly recognisable: richly coloured, densely layered, and full of a joy in the physical world. She painted the same subjects — her Paddington home, her garden, her beloved collection of ceramics and textiles — again and again, finding something new each time.
A Generous Spirit
Olley was as celebrated for her generosity as for her art. She donated millions of dollars' worth of works to Australian galleries, and her Paddington home — a glorious, chaotic treasure trove of art, objects, and plants — was recreated in meticulous detail at the Tweed Regional Gallery, where the Margaret Olley Art Centre now stands as a tribute to her life and work.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006, and received honorary doctorates from several Australian universities. When she passed away in 2011, Australia lost one of its great artistic souls.
Celebrate Margaret Olley at Home
Our Margaret Olley collection at Paper Parrot brings her vibrant, joyful vision to life in greeting cards and gifts that are perfect for art lovers and anyone who believes that beauty belongs in everyday life.