From the Inside, Looking Out
13-31 May 2025
Mitchell Fine Art Gallery, Fortitude Valley
Acclaimed artist Bernard Ollis OAM invites art lovers to experience his latest exhibition, From the Inside Looking Out. Known for his vibrant and dynamic depictions of life, Ollis presents a fresh collection of works that transform everyday scenes into immersive, colourful compositions.
Primarily a figurative artist, Ollis is fascinated by the human form and the spaces people inhabit. In this exhibition, his paintings distort and amplify reality through bold colours, dynamic perspectives, and intricate patterns, synthesizing multiple viewpoints into a single striking image.
“I have always been interested in pictures within pictures. Encouraging you, the viewer, to see beyond one space and out into another. In short, from the inside, to the out,” says Ollis. “These artworks have been created and inspired by visits to specific locations, imagined or seen. They are never about accurate copies, or representation, after all, that is the role of the camera.”
A British-born, Sydney-based artist, Ollis has an extensive academic and professional background, having served as the longest-standing Director of the National Art School in Sydney. His contributions to the arts were recognized in 2023 when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to visual arts and education.
Throughout his career, Bernard Ollis has been selected several times for prestigious Australian Art Prizes including the Sulman and the Dobell Art Prize, as well as the Salon des Refuses. His work has been acquired in collections such as the National Art Gallery of Australia, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Queensland Art Gallery, and the Royal College of Art UK.
For further information or to view the exhibition online, visit the Mitchell Fine Art website
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