Maria Olsen (artist)

Maria Olsen (1947 – 21 April 2014) was a New Zealand painter and sculptor.[1][2]

Olsen studied at the Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury from 1962 to 1964. She worked as a teacher part-time then returned to her art full-time in the 1980s.[3]

In the 1980s Olsen lived and worked in Grey Lynn, Auckland. She became renowned for her large, murky yet tactile paintings with three dimensional elements which imbued them with a sculptural quality; reflective of other elements of her practice. During this era she often repeatedly portrayed what appeared to be a large cauldron or tank in a mysterious, darkened space. This repeated motif became iconic of her work. She was a significant element of the Sue Crockford Gallery stable during this period. In the 1990s she immigrated to Australia where she lived and worked in Prahran, Melbourne, Victoria for some years. She resided in Queensland when she died.

Maria Olsen was married to artist John Parry (b Ballarat, Vic). They had two daughters, who in turn followed in their career footsteps. Ruth Williams (Parry) is an artist and Art conservator in Australia, and Mehera Parry is also an artist in Australia.

Olsen's work is held in the collections of Auckland Art Gallery, Anderson Park Art Gallery, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Hocken Library, James Wallace Collection, Manawatu Art Gallery and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[4]

References
  1. "Loading... | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  2. "Maria Olsen". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  3. Dunn, Michael (2003). New Zealand Painting: A Concise History. Auckland, New Zealand: Auckland University Press.
  4. "Ferner Galleries | Maria Olsen". www.fernergalleries.co.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
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