John Olsen was born in NSW in 1928 and  became recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s most significant and accomplished artists of the twentieth century. His beginnings started at the Julian Ashton School before undertaking further study in Europe. He returned from Europe in 1960, introducing an expressionistic type of painting into Sydney. Olsen combined his child-art type of imagery with a highly intellectual sophistication. He also designed tapestries and in 1972 was commissioned to paint a mural for The Sydney Opera House. Olsen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He was an Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize Award winner and his work is represented in State and Provincial galleries. He passed away in 2023.