Olsen Gallery

Contemporary Art in Sydney's Inner East

Olsen Gallery sits at 63 Jersey Street in Woollahra, NSW, one of those tree-lined Sydney neighbourhoods packed with independent shops and a genuine art community. The place pulls in collectors, art enthusiasts, and anyone after solid contemporary work. Being in Woollahra means it's well connected to the broader Eastern Suburbs art scene, though it does run its own ship when it comes to what gets on the walls and how things operate.

They've got two gallery spaces going: Olsen Sydney and Olsen Annexe, with different shows rotating through most of the year. The two-space approach means they can keep a decent clip of exhibitions happening, mixing established artists with up-and-comers doing all kinds of contemporary art. People who visit regularly always find something new to look at.

Range of work and what gets shown

Olsen Gallery in Woollahra, NSW focuses on contemporary figurative, abstract, and landscape painting. You'll find artists working across the board here: some tackle the human figure with precision, capturing swimmers and sunbathers in bright coastal light or doing personal portraiture, while others work in abstract and expressionist landscapes that try to pin down what a place actually feels like. The whole idea is that different artistic approaches work better when they're shown together rather than separated out.

Seascapes and coastal work make up a significant part of what the gallery shows. Jennifer Rosnell's 'Sunkissed' is one example, pulling from Sydney's beaches and the way light moves across figures and atmosphere. The gallery also takes animal and wildlife art seriously, showing artists who spend real time on technical skill and careful observation of the natural world. You'll see still life and landscape pieces too, which means there's something for different collectors while the gallery keeps the standard of work consistently high across everything on the walls.

Feature Artists and Indigenous Partnerships

Olsen Gallery represents Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin, a senior Pitjantjatjara artist from Mimili on the APY Lands. Tuppy's landscape paintings draw on decades of cultural knowledge and tell stories tied to places of deep significance for Anangu people. Her work captures themes including Antara and the Maku Tjukurpa, the witchetty grub story. Since taking on the chairperson role at Mimili Maku Arts in 2009, she's mentored younger artists while continuing to develop her own practice, with exhibitions across Australia and overseas.

The gallery takes Indigenous Australian art seriously through its work with artists like Tuppy, centering Aboriginal perspectives, storytelling, and custodianship in what it presents. Olsen Gallery's connections with artists across the country, from city-based to remote communities, reflect genuine commitment to contemporary practice beyond Sydney. This approach gives visitors real insight into how varied and vibrant Australian art is at the moment.

Expanded Services: Print Editions and Pre-owned Works

Olsen Gallery gives collectors more than one way to buy art. LIMITED Contemporary Editions is a Sydney print studio attached to the gallery that produces archival limited edition prints from leading Australian artists, including exclusive John Olsen works with blind embossing for authenticity. Every print is hand-signed, numbered, and printed on archival paper, keeping fine art within reach without cutting corners on conservation.

In 2024, the gallery partnered with Brett Ballard, former Head of Art at Menzies and Senior Specialist at Sotheby's Australia, to launch 63 Jersey Art Sales. This venture brings pre-owned and rare works by both established and emerging artists into Olsen Gallery's offering, backing collectors at every level. You can now find original paintings, limited edition prints, or carefully picked secondary market works all in one place, making Olsen Gallery far more than just a single gallery space.

Year-Round Exhibition Programme and Visitor Experience

{"text":"Olsen Gallery keeps things fresh with rotating exhibitions throughout the year. You'll find work by artists like Jennifer Rosnell, Emma Itzstein, Julie Corbet, Erin Murphy, Holly Greenwood, Eliza Gosse, and Zoe Young. They show a good mix of established names and up-and-coming painters, portraitists, and abstract artists. With exhibitions cycling regularly, there's always something new on the walls for regular visitors and casual drop-ins alike."}.

{"text":"Olsen Gallery operates from its physical space in Woollahra, NSW, providing visitors with artist talks, publications, and other resources to enrich their experience. The gallery stands out as a solid, professionally run space dedicated to contemporary art in Sydney, offering proper attention to diverse artistic voices. Collectors, students, artists, and art enthusiasts will all find it a worthwhile visit.