Olsen Gallery

Contemporary Art in Sydney's Inner East

Olsen Gallery is a modern art gallery located at 63 Jersey Street in Woollahra, Sydney's prestigious inner eastern suburb known for its leafy streets, independent boutiques, and thriving arts community. Set in this vibrant neighbourhood, the gallery serves as a destination for collectors, art enthusiasts, and visitors seeking high-quality contemporary art in an accessible setting. The gallery's position in Woollahra places it within easy reach of the broader Eastern Suburbs art scene whilst maintaining its own distinct curatorial vision and programme.

The gallery operates across two complementary spaces: Olsen Sydney and Olsen Annexe, each hosting carefully curated exhibitions throughout the year. This dual-space approach allows Olsen Gallery to run an ambitious exhibition schedule that showcases both established and emerging artists working across a spectrum of contemporary practices. The result is a dynamic programming calendar that ensures repeat visitors always find fresh perspectives and new work to discover.

Diverse Artistic Practices and Exhibition Focus

Olsen Gallery specialises in contemporary figurative, abstract, and landscape painting, with particular strength in works celebrating Australia's distinctive coastal and natural imagery. The gallery's artists explore the figure in intimate detail—from swimmers and sunbathers rendered in light-filled coastal settings to introspective portraiture—alongside dynamic abstractions and expressionist landscapes that capture the essence of place. This commitment to multiple art styles reflects the gallery's philosophy that contemporary art thrives when different approaches and visions coexist.

A notable focus within the programme is seascape and coastal painting, exemplified by exhibitions such as Jennifer Rosnell's 'Sunkissed', which draws inspiration from Sydney's beaches and the interplay between human figures and atmospheric light. Equally important is wildlife and animal art, with the gallery championing artists who explore our natural world with sensitivity and technical skill. Still life, landscape painting, and figurative work round out a broad range that appeals to diverse collector interests whilst maintaining rigorous artistic standards across all mediums.

Feature Artists and Indigenous Partnerships

The gallery proudly represents Tuppy Ngintja Goodwin, a senior Pitjantjatjara artist from Mimili on the APY Lands who channels decades of cultural knowledge and lived experience into dynamic landscape painting. Tuppy's works capture the stories embedded in places of profound significance to Anangu—notably Antara and the Maku Tjukurpa (witchetty grub story). As chairperson of Mimili Maku Arts since its foundation in 2009, she has mentored emerging artists whilst maintaining her own powerful artistic practice, achieving national and international exhibition reach.

Through artists like Tuppy, Olsen Gallery demonstrates commitment to supporting Indigenous Australian artistic voices and ensuring that Aboriginal perspectives, storytelling, and custodianship are central to its programme. The gallery's relationship with artists working across Australia's regions—urban and remote—reflects a serious engagement with contemporary practice that extends well beyond Sydney's boundaries, offering visitors insight into the diversity and vitality of Australian art today.

Expanded Services: Print Editions and Pre-owned Works

Beyond its exhibition programme, Olsen Gallery offers collectors multiple entry points into art acquisition through complementary ventures. LIMITED Contemporary Editions, a Sydney-based print studio associated with the gallery, produces archival limited edition prints from leading Australian artists, including exclusive John Olsen works blind-embossed for authenticity. All prints are hand-signed, numbered, and created on premium archival paper, making fine art accessible without sacrificing conservation standards.

In 2024, the gallery launched 63 Jersey Art Sales in partnership with Brett Ballard, former Head of Art at Menzies and Senior Specialist at Sotheby's Australia. This service expands Olsen Gallery's offering to include pre-owned and rare works by both renowned and emerging artists, honouring the gallery's commitment to serving the full spectrum of collector needs. Whether visitors are seeking original paintings, limited edition prints, or carefully selected secondary market works, these services ensure that Olsen Gallery functions as a comprehensive art hub rather than a single-focus venue.

Year-Round Exhibition Programme and Visitor Experience

Olsen Gallery's exhibition calendar runs throughout the year with regular rotating shows that maintain momentum and encourage repeated visits. Recent and upcoming exhibitions feature artists such as Jennifer Rosnell, Emma Itzstein, Julie Corbet, Erin Murphy, Holly Greenwood, Eliza Gosse, and Zoe Young—a mix of established practitioners and rising talents working across painting, portraiture, and abstract work. This steady programme means there is always something new to encounter, whether you visit seasonally or regularly.

The gallery's commitment to accessibility and community engagement is reflected not only in its physical spaces in Woollahra but also through curatorial resources, artist talks, and publications that deepen viewers' engagement with the work. For anyone seeking contemporary art in Sydney—whether a collector, student, artist, or simply an enthusiast—Olsen Gallery offers an inviting, professionally curated experience where diverse artistic voices are given space to be seen and celebrated.