The light and shade behind John Olsen’s genius

The light and shade behind John Olsen’s genius

“The first time John Olsen applied for Sydney’s National Art School, he failed the entry test. That was in 1945 as a teenager. In 2021, aged 93, he told this story with great relish to the opening night audience at what was to be his last major exhibition, John Olsen: Goya’s Dog. It was in the NAS Gallery at the National Art School, where he did eventually get in to study in the early 1950s, and later taught after returning from several years in Spain in the early 1960s.”

Steven Alderton, Director and CEO of NAS, writes for the Financial Review on the passing of NAS Alumus and fellow John Olsen.

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Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – 'Afterglow', headlined by Miss Kaninna, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember! 

Thursday 16 October 2025 
4.30pm – 10pm 
Cell Block Theatre 

RSVP at the link in bio. 

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.

Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.
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