Collection: 'From the Inside, Looking Out' | Bernard Ollis OAM

13 May - 31 May 2025

Born in England into a working-class family, Bernard won scholarships to study at Cardiff University and the Royal College of Art in London. He received his Master of Art from the Royal College of Art in painting. His tutors in art have been some of the great names of British art, including Sir Peter Blake, David Hockney, and Francis Bacon.

In 1976, at the age of 26, Bernard migrated from the UK to Australia to take up a teaching position at the then Darwin Community College, now known as Charles Darwin University. He remained in the Northern Territory for 6 years. This began a long teaching career which culminated in his appointment as the Director of the National Art School, a position he held for 11 years, leaving in 2008.

As a figurative artist Bernard’s interest lies with the human form; the everyday lives of people, what environment they create and inhabit. With floating figures, vivid colours and undulating structures, Bernard aims to visually engage the viewer to consider themselves in that very moment, an evocation of place rather than a picture perfect postcard view. 

Bernard Ollis has had a constant stream of successful solo exhibitions in Australia, as well as solo exhibitions in Shanghai, Berlin, Paris, Auckland, and London. Bernard 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 Brisbane, the Royal College of Art UK and Parliament House Canberra.

Throughout his career Bernard has been selected several times for prestigious Australian Art Prizes including the Sulman Art Prize, Dobell Art Prize, and the Salon de Refuses.  

In the 2023 Kings birthday honors list he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the visual arts and education.