IT is fitting that three works by the iconic Australian artist, John Henry Olsen OBE AO, are presently on display in the Hamilton Gallery as part of the “Icons: Australian Art” exhibition, following his passing on Wednesday at the age of 95.

The art world, including in Hamilton, is mourning the death of one of the nation’s much loved and most celebrated artists, who leaves a remarkable legacy through his famous paintings.

Hamilton Gallery director, Josh White, expressed his sorrow and said the art world was saddened to have lost one of Australia’s most influential painters.

“John Olsen was one of Australia’s most important art figures,” he said.

“He was and will remain an Australian icon.

“He has been dubbed ‘the greatest Australian painter of our time’ and has been awarded some of Australia’s most prestigious art prizes including the Wynne, Archibald and Sulman.

“He’s got the most distinctive way.

“No one has really interpreted Australia in that abstract way.

“If you look at the Five Bells hanging in the Sydney Opera House - it’s over 21 metres long - and has been compared to Monet’s ‘Lilies’, - it’s like the Australian version.

Mr White also said Olsen was renowned for unique commissions.

“He’d paint on ceilings of rooms in private houses,” he said.

“You’d look up and there would be a massive abstract work - there’s some really interesting works in situ in people’s homes.

“He did a lot of that in the 70s which was a bit of a wild period for art in Australia.

“He’d also get in a helicopter to fly over landscapes to sketch and work from above.”

Born in Newcastle, Australia, in 1928, Olsen studied art in Sydney before leaving to live and work abroad including in England and Spain between 1957-1960.

He returned to live in Australia and in 1977 was awarded an Order of the British Empire, and in 2001 an Order of Australia and the Centenary Medal for his services to the arts.

It was for his painting; Self Portrait Janus Faced, that he won the most prestigious Australian art competition, the Archibald Prize in 2005.

While famous for his paintings, Olsen also produced works in ceramics, tapestry and printmaking.

Mr White reflected upon the impact Olsen’s work had on him personally when he had only just taken up the position as director of the Gallery in 2020 and in the same year, selected Olsen works to be part of the “Director’s Choice” exhibition.

“I still remember the first time I ever saw one of his artworks,” Mr White said.

“It’s vibrant colours, wild and active lines and just the scale was breathtaking.

“It changed my whole idea of how Australia could be interpreted.

“I spent 15 years in Newcastle NSW, which is where John Olsen was born in 1928.”

Mr White said he believed that was why he felt a personal connection to the artist, having also encountered his work throughout his career.

He said Olsen’s unique and recognisable style will forever be entrenched within Australian art history.

Mr White said that Olsen visited Hamilton in 1978 to judge the Ansett Art Awards.

“His works in the Hamilton Gallery are an important aspect of our Australian art focus, with six Olsen paintings in our collection,” he said.

The “Icons: Australian Art” exhibition, which features Olsen alongside works by Sydney Nolan and Fred Williams, will run until April 23.