John Olsen is a name that will forever be synonymous with Newcastle art. 

The talented painter, who died earlier this week aged 95, was not only born in the former steel city, but he frequented his former hometown on many occasions throughout the decades. 

Befittingly his first home is a short stroll from where 43 of his artworks now live – within the Newcastle Art Gallery. 

Olsen’s unique perspectives can now be found on canvases all over the country, including galleries and private collections, as well as within the northern foyer of the Sydney Opera House. 

He is credited with redefining Australian landscape paintings. 

By changing the perspective, the father-of-three rewrote the rulebook on where an admirer stands, taking artlovers above a scene and within a landscape. 

During his lifetime he won the Wynn Prize, the Sulman Prize, Archibald Prize, as well as an Order of the British Empire (OBE) and an Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the arts. 

He once said, “If drawing is empathy, become the object, go into the centre of it.” 

This week fellow Novocastrians paid tribute to the talented artist, including Newcastle Art Gallery director Lauretta Morton. 

“I had the great privilege of working closely with John when we co-curated his major summer exhibition at Newcastle Art Gallery in 2016,” she told the Newcastle Weekly. 

“Testament to his popularity, the exhibition achieved the highest audience attendance in the Gallery’s history with close to 30,000 visitors.  

“To coincide with the exhibition, John celebrated his 89th birthday at the gallery, with 500 members of our community singing Happy Birthday in loud unison and sharing his huge King Sun & the Hunter 2016 painting themed birthday cake. 

“John’s generosity and support of Newcastle Art Gallery was significant, donating several works of art to the gallery.  

“His legacy will continue through the 43 works of art in our collection, including Still life with boy 1954, exhibited in the artist’s first exhibition at Macquarie Galleries in 1955 and two significant ceiling paintings created in 1964, Life Burst and The sea sun of 5 bells.  

“I look forward to welcoming The sea sun of 5 bells home when it returns on permanent display in our newly expanded Art Gallery, it has become such an integral part of the fabric of our building.  

“In the interim while the Art Gallery is closed, I encourage everyone to visit Newcastle City Hall to view John’s Climbing sun over the Hunter three-panel mural commissioned by the City of Newcastle in 1981.  

“Vale John Olsen.” 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes says the city is deeply saddened by the passing of such an iconic artist. 

“Known for his distinctive depictions of landscapes and nature, John passionately shared the city’s vision for an expanded Newcastle Art Gallery and we are privileged to be able to continue his artistic legacy through the gallery’s permanent collection, which features 43 Olsen works of art,” she said. 

“It is fitting that such a giant of the art community was responsible for the iconic works that have pride of place in two of our most prominent civic buildings, including the Newcastle City Hall foyer (Climbing sun over the Hunter, 1981) and the Art Gallery ceiling (The sea sun of 5 bells, 1964). 

“We are honoured to share these works with the community to ensure John’s magnificent life’s work is treasured by generations to come.” 

For more stories like this:

• Lauretta Morton: My Favourite Things
• Your guide to the April school holidays
• Newcastle artist Mitch Revs

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.