Bernard Ollis (born 1951 in

Bath, England Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...

) is an Australian artist and painter who lives and works in Sydney and

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

. Ollis is the former director of the

National Art School The National Art School (NAS) is a tertiary level art school, located in , an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school is an independent accredited higher education provider offering specialised study in studio arts ...

, Sydney. Born in

, Ollis is a graduate of Cardiff School of Art & Design, Wales and received his Master of Art (Painting) from the

Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the United Kingdom. It of ...

. Ollis arrived in Australia in 1976 and lectured at the University of the Northern Territory, where he became head of his department, and

La Trobe University La Trobe University is a public university, public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora, Victoria, Bundoora. The university was established in 196 ...

, Victoria where he became Head of Fine Art. In 1996, Ollis was appointed Head of Painting at the

, Sydney. He became Director there in late 1997, a position he held for 10 years. Ollis has held over 60 solo exhibitions since 1972 in Australia, New Zealand, and London, and has participated in group exhibitions throughout Australia, Europe, and Asia. Ollis undertook a residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris in 1975 and in 2008 he underwent a Residency as the guest of the Australian Ambassador to Egypt, Dr Bob Bowker. Subsequent residencies include the Obracadobra artist residency in

Oaxaca City Oaxaca de Juárez (), also Oaxaca City or simply Oaxaca (Valley Zapotec: ''Ndua''), is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Mexican state Oaxaca. It is the municipal seat for the surrounding Municipality of Oaxaca. It is in the Centro ...

, Mexico, with Mawson's Huts Foundation to

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest co ...

in 2014, and an international artist residency at Funxing-Ginger Art Space,

Zhouzhuang Zhouzhuang (; Wu Chinese, Wu: ''Tseu-zaon'') is a town famous for its canals in Jiangsu province, China. It is located within the administrative area of Kunshan, 30 km southeast of the city centre of Suzhou. Zhouzhuang is a popular tourist ...

Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its c ...

, China in 2015. Ollis received the 1976 John Minton International Painting Prize, the 1977 Sir Frederick Richards’ Travelling Scholarship (UK), an Australia Council Visual Arts Board Grant (1984), and the Conrad Jupiters Award in 2005 (Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD). Ollis's work is currently held in public collections in Australia and the United Kingdom, including the Royal College of Art London, National Gallery of Australia,

Parliament House, Canberra Parliament House, also referred to as Capital Hill or simply Parliament, is the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia, and the seat of the legislative branch of the Australian Government. Located in Canberra, the Parliament building ...

, and the State Galleries of Queensland, Victoria and Northern Territory. His partner is artist

Wendy Sharpe Wendy Sharpe (born 1960 in Sydney) is an Australian artist who lives and works in Sydney and Paris. She is the only child of British parents and has a Russian Jewish heritage. Her father is the writer and historian Alan Sharpe. She counts a ...

Selected solo exhibitions

* 2019 Departures, Aarwun, Canberra *2019 The Traveller, Mitchell Fine Art Gallery, Brisbane *2018 Bernard Ollis, Anala Art Advisory, Glenbrook, Blue Mountains *2018 Being There, Harvey Galleries, Mosman & Seaforth, Sydney *2018 Traveler's Tales: Paris and Morocco, Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth * 2017 Paris and Other Stories, Aarwun Galleries, Canberra * 2017 Observations, Mitchell Galleries Brisbane (May) * 2017 Favourite Places, Harvey Galleries Seaforth and Mosman, Sydney * 2016 Run Ya Artspace Linyi China * 2016 Cultural Exchange of Australia and China, Linyi Arts Centre Shandong * 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, Queensland * 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 * 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 * 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 * 2012 Paris Considered, NG Art Gallery, Sydney 2012 Parisian Reflections, Letham Galleries, Auckland, NZ * 2011 Paris Revisited, NG Art Gallery, Sydney * 2011 Major Works, Buratti Fine Art, Perth * 2010 Italy 19Karen Contemporary Artspace Gold Coast, Queensland * 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 Victoria * 1994 Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria * 1993 Botanical Gallery, South Yarra Victoria * 1992 Retrospective Paintings and Pastels Macquarie Gallery, Sydney NSW * 1991 Powell Street Gallery, South Yarra Victoria 1990 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney NSW * 1989 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney NSW * 1988 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney NSW * 1998 Roz McAllen Gallery, Brisbane Queensland * 1987 Macquarie Gallery, Sydney NSW Powell Street Gallery, South Yarra Victoria * 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 Victoria * 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

Selected group exhibitions

* 2018 'Nature and Life: Images from our Souls', Bayside Arts Festival, Sydney * 2017 'Salon des Refuses', S.H. Ervin, Sydney * 2017 'Bernard Ollis & Wendy Sharpe', Firestation Print Studio, Melbourne * 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 * 2011 'Dobell Prize', Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney * 2011 I'N WORT', Maitland Regional Art Gallery touring exhibition * 2010 'Salon des Refuses', S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney * 2010 ‘Tales from the City’, Two person exhibition with Wendy Sharpe, Orange Regional Art Gallery * 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, England * 2008 ‘Vernissage’ Oxford Street Gallery, Melbourne Victoria * 2008 ‘Drawcard’ National Art School Gallery, Sydney New South Wales * 2007 ‘Fragile Planet’ NG Art Gallery, Sydney New South Wales * 2007 ‘Salon des Refuses’ SH Ervin Gallery, New South Wales * 2007 SCEGGS Redlands Art Prize * 2007 Mosman Art Prize * 2007 ‘There is no place like home’ NG Art Gallery, Sydney New South Wales * 2006 Hong Ik University Gallery, Seoul South Korea * 2005 ‘Drawcard’ Cell Block Theatre National Art School, Sydney New South Wales * 2005 ‘Dog Trumpet’ Michael Nagy Gallery, Sydney New South Wales * 2005 ‘Drawing the Line’ Cell Block Theatre National Art School (academic staff exhibition) * 2005 Art Space, Bendigo Victoria * 2005 Lake Macquarie Invitation Prize, University Gallery Sydney NSW

Awards and prizes

* 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 The Cité internationale des arts is an artist-in-residence building complex which accommodates artists of all specialities and nationalities in Paris. It comprises two sites, one located in the Marais and the other in Montmartre. Approximatel ...

Institutional lecturer

* 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

Collections

In the Permanent Collection of: *

Australian National Gallery The National Gallery of Australia (NGA), formerly the Australian National Gallery, is the national art museum of Australia as well as one of the largest art museums in Australia, holding more than 166,000 works of art. Located in Canberra in t ...

, Canberra *

National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria, popularly known as the NGV, is an art museum in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is Australia's oldest and list of most visited art museums in the world, most visited ar ...

, Melbourne *

Queensland Art Gallery The Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) is an art museum located in South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The gallery is part of QAGOMA. It complements the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) building, situated only away. The Queensland Art Galler ...

, Brisbane *

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the main museum in the Northern Territory. The museum is located in the inner Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay. The MAGNT is governed by the Board of the Museum and Art Gallery of the N ...

* The Royal College of Art London, UK * Parliament House, Canberra * The

Commonwealth Institute The Commonwealth Education Trust is a registered charity established in 2007 as the successor trust to the Commonwealth Institute. The trust focuses on primary and secondary education and the training of teachers and invests on educational pro ...

, London, UK * Art Bank, Sydney *

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMIT University, officially the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,, section 4(b) is a public research university in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1887 by Francis Ormond, RMIT began as a night school offering classes in art, scie ...

, Victoria *

, Melbourne * Darwin University, Northern Territory * McGregor Collection

University of Southern Queensland The University of Southern Queensland (branded as UniSQ and formerly branded as USQ) is a medium-sized, regional university based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, with three university campuses at Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich. It of ...

Toowoomba Toowoomba ( , nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar') is a city in the Toowoomba Region of the Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia. It is west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The urban population of Toowoomba as of the 2021 ...

* Gold Coast City Art Gallery,

Surfers Paradise, Queensland Surfers Paradise is a suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the , Surfers Paradise had a population of 23,689 people. Colloquially known as "Surfers", the suburb has many high-rise apartment buildings and a wide surf b ...

* Herald Sun Art Collection, Melbourne * Bathurst Arts Centre, Bathurst * New England Regional Art Museum,

Armidale Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 24,504 as of June 2018. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands, New South ...

* Orange Regional Art Gallery, Orange * Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton * Ballarat Art Gallery and Museum,

Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. Within months of Vi ...

* Bendigo Art Gallery,

Bendigo Bendigo ( ) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. As of 2019, Bendigo had an urban population of 100,991, mak ...

External links

www.bernardollis.com

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ollis, Bernard Living people 1951 births Australian contemporary artists Artists from Sydney Australian painters