Bernard Ollis

Biography

Self Portrait with Brushes 2015, Mixed Media, 156 x 122cm

 

Bernard Ollis OAM

Dip AD (BA Hons) MA Royal College of Art (Painting) London


  • 1951 Born in Bath, England, UK

     

    Studies

     

  • 1973 – 1976 Master of Art (Painting), the Royal College of Art, London UK (MA RCA London)

  • 1970 – 1973 Diploma of Art and Design, Cardiff College of Art and Design, Wales UK (Dip AD)

  • 1969 – 1970 Foundation Studies Cardiff College of Art and Design, Wales UK (BA Hons)

     

    Lecturing and Administrative Experience

     

  • 1998 – 2009 Director National Art School (Sydney)
  • 1997 – 1998 Head of Studies National Art School (Sydney)

  • 1996 – 1997 Head of Painting Department National Art School (Sydney)

  • 1994 – 1996 Senior Lecturer/Head of Fine Art La Trobe University (Victoria)

  • 1982 – 1994 Head of Painting La Trobe University (Victoria)

  • 1982 Acting Head of Visual Art Department Darwin Community College (University Northern Territory)

  • 1978 – 1982 Head of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture Section Darwin Community College (University Northern Territory)

  • 1977 – 1978 Lecturer Fine Art Darwin Community College (University Northern Territory)

  • 1974 – 1976 Visiting Lecturer Various British Art Schools

     

    Solo Exhibitions

     

  • 2020 Artists' Gardens (Part 1) Harvey Galleries, Sydney, NSW

  • 2019 Recent Works, Linton & Kay Subiaco Gallery, Perth, WA

  • 2019 A Tale of Two Cities, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK

  • 2019 The Traveller, Mitchell Fine Art Galleries, Brisbane, QLD

  • 2019 Departures, Aarwun Gallery, Canberra, ACT

  • 2018 Being There, Harvey Galleries, Sydney, NSW

  • 2018 Traveller's Tails - Paris and Morocco, Linton and Kay, Subiaco Gallery, Perth, WA

  • 2017 Paris and Other Stories, Aarwun Gallery, Canberra, ACT

  • 2017 Observations, Mitchell Galleries Brisbane, QLD

  • 2017 Favourite Places, Harvey Galleries Seaforth and Mosman, Sydney NSW

  • 2016 Run Ya Artspace Linyi, China

  • 2016 Cultural Exchange of Australia and China, Linyi Arts Centre Shandong, China

  • 2016 Storytelling about China - Shanghai Cultural Centre & Art Gallery, China

  • 2016 Open Studio – Travel Paintings, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA

  • 2016 Travels to Paris, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, Sydney, NSW

  • 2015 Brisbane and Beyond, Mike Mitchell Fine Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

  • 2015 Bernard Ollis: 54 Works at Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin, Germany

  • 2015 Observations of Paris, NG Gallery, Sydney

  • 2015 Theatre of Life, Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA

  • 2015 Antarctica- Shackleton, The Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney NSW

  • 2014 Bernard Ollis, Kenthurst Galleries, NSW 2014 Le Regard de deux Australiens, L’Espace Beaujon, Paris, France

  • 2014 Traveller’s Tales, Tweed River Regional Gallery, NSW

  • 2013 A Town Like Paris, Muk Muk Fine Art, travelling show to Alice Springs, Darwin, Brisbane, QLD

  • 2013 Paris Work, Buratti Fine Art, Perth 2012 – 13 Modern Living: Bernard Ollis. A survey of the work of Bernard Ollis, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney, NSW

  • 2012 Paris Considered, NG Art Gallery, Sydney

  • 2012 NSW Parisian Reflections, Letham Galleries, Auckland, NZ

  • 2011 Paris Revisited, NG Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 2011 Major Works, Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA

  • 2010 Italy 19Karen Contemporary Artspace Gold Coast, QLD

  • 2009 The Grand Tour, United Galleries Perth, WA

  • 2009 Journeys through Italy and Egypt, NG Art Sydney, NSW

  • 2008 Urban Myth, United Galleries Perth, WA

  • 2008 Incognito NG Art, Chippendale Sydney, NSW

  • 2006 The St Peters Suite Michael Nagy Fine Art, Sydney, NSW

  • 2002 Stella Downer Galleries, Sydney, NSW

  • 2001 Michael Nagy Fine Art, Sydney NSW

  • 2000 Michael Nagy Fine Art, Sydney, NSW

  • 1998 Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1998 Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney NSW

  • 1997 Hot Bath Gallery, Bath, UK

  • 1996 Australian Galleries, Melbourne, VIC

  • 1994 Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria

  • 1993 Botanical Gallery, South Yarra, VIC

  • 1992 Retrospective Paintings and Pastels Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1991 Powell Street Gallery, South Yarra, VIC

  • 1990 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1989 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1988 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1988 Roz McAllen Gallery, Brisbane QLD

  • 1987 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW

  • 1986 Powell Street Gallery, South Yarra, VIC

  • 1984 – 1986 Visual Arts Board, “Bernard Ollis” The Australian Tour; exhibited at:

    • Under croft Gallery for the Perth Festival
    • University of Western Australia
    • Hawthorn City Art Gallery, Victoria
    • Warrnambool Art Gallery, Victoria
    • Ararat Gallery, Victoria
    • Mildura Arts Centre, Victoria
    • Shepparton Regional Art Gallery, Victoria
    • Muswellbrook Art Gallery, NSW
    • Bathurst Regional Gallery, NSW
    • Orange Art Gallery, NSW
    • Benalla Art Gallery Victoria
    • Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW
    • Bendigo Art Gallery Victoria (extended survey exhibition)
  • 1984 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 1982 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 1981 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 1978 Warehouse Galleries, South Melbourne, VIC
  • 1976 The Africa Centre, Covent Garden, London, UK
  • 1976 The Royal Commonwealth Society, London, UK
  • 1974 – 1975 Commonwealth Institute Gallery, London, UK
  • 1972 – 1973 College of Art Gallery, Cardiff, Wales
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    Selected Group Exhibitions

     

  • 2020 Primaveral, Mitchell Fine Art Galleries, Brisbane, QLD

  • 2019-20 Elsewhere: Travels through Morocco, Syria, Iran & Central Asia,(2 person with Wendy Sharpe) Touring Regional Galleries in NSW
  • 2019 Connections: Art & Collaboration, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW
  • 2018 The Art of Friendship, Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney NSW
  • 2017 Salon des Refusés - S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2016 Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW
  • 2015 Three Australians, Gallery 12, Auckland NZ
  • 2015 New Romantics (with Wendy Sharpe and Johnny Romeo), Penny Contemporary Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
  • 2015 Private Lives: Collections, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2014 Le Regard de Deux Australiens, L'Espace Beaujon, Paris, France
  • 2011 Dobell Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
  • 2011 IN[TWO]ART, Maitland Regional Art Gallery touring exhibition
  • 2010 Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2010 ‘Tales from the City’, (2 person with Wendy Sharpe), Orange Regional Art Gallery, NSW
  • 2009 ‘Every Dog has its Day’, Letham Gallery Auckland NZ
  • 2008 United Galleries, Perth WA
  • 2008 Contemporary Drawing London University of the Arts, Wimbledon Art Col, UK
  • 2008 ‘Vernissage’ Oxford Street Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2008 ‘Drawcard’ National Art School Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2007 ‘Fragile Planet’ NG Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2007 ‘Salon des Refuses’ SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2007 SCEGGS Redlands Art Prize, NSW
  • 2007 Mosman Art Prize, NSW
  • 2007 ‘There is no place like home’ NG Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2006 Hong Ik University Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
  • 2005 ‘Drawcard’ Cell Block Theatre National Art School, Sydney, NSW
  • 2005 ‘Dog Trumpet’ Michael Nagy Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2005 ‘Drawing the Line’ Cell Block Theatre National Art School (academic staff exhibition) Sydney, NSW
  • 2005 Art Space, Bendigo Victoria
  • 2005 Lake Macquarie Invitation Prize, University Gallery Sydney, NSW
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    Awards and Prizes

     

  • 2023 Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the visual arts, and to education.
  • 2015 Artist Residency in Zhouzhang, China
  • 2014 Mawson’s Hut Foundation artist-in-residence, Antarctica voyage
  • 2008 Australian Embassy, Artist-in-Residence Studio, Cairo Egypt
  • 2005 Conrad Jupiter Art Prize Gold Coast City Art Gallery Queensland
  • 2000 Olympic Arts Festival 1992 Selected by Melbourne Theatre Company for season’s brochure
  • 1989 Selected for Sydney Children’s Choir catalogue
  • 1988 Heritage Arts Festival Award, Queensland
  • 1984 Visual Arts Board Australia, Council Grant
  • 1983 Commissioned series of paintings for Napoleon Brandy Advertising Campaign
  • 1982 Gold Coast City Art Awards, Queensland
  • 1977 Sir Fredrick Richards’s Travelling Scholarship (drawing), UK
  • 1976 John Minton International Painting Prize, London UK
  • 1975 Artist-in-residence Maltese Studio International Youth Arts Festival British representative
  • 1975 Artist-in-residence Paris Studio Cité Internationale des Arts France