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Artwork by renowned Italian still life painter Giorgio Morandi and Australia’s Margaret Olley now hang alongside renowned French Impressionist Claude Monet at the Tweed Regional Gallery, as part of the National Gallery of Australia’s Sharing the National Collection initiative.
The new works include Morandi’s Natura morta [Still life] 1956 as well as two still lifes and an interior by Olley - Pomegranate I 1976, Katie's quinces 1976, and [Morning interior] c.1973.
The new artworks were unveiled at the Gallery overnght and will be on display in Murwillumbah until October 2025, signaling the final phase of the National Gallery initiative in the Tweed.
In total, five works have been shared with the Gallery from the national collection as part the initiative –the $174 million masterpiece by French Impressionist Monet, Meules, milieu du jour [Haystacks, midday] 1890 arrived in November last year.
Tweed Regional Gallery Director Ingrid Hedgcock said the arrival of the latest works signalled another milestone for the Gallery and for regional art in Australia.
“We’re honoured to offer people the opportunity to view these works from the national collection and are so grateful to the National Gallery for supporting us through this incredible initiative,” Ms Hedgcock said.
“To have these works alongside the Monet, which has been incredibly popular, not only shows the depth and richness of the national collection but signifies the importance of granting regional audiences access to seminal works of this kind.
"It’s touching to note that Morandi was one of Olley’s favourite artists – so to show these pieces together is really special. Rarely do we consider the artist as viewer but Olley travelled the world to see artworks by the modern masters she admired as she understood the importance seeing artworks in person rather than in reproductions.”
National Gallery Deputy Director Adam Lindsay was thrilled for these works to join Haystacks at the Tweed Regional Gallery.
“With artists like Monet, Olley and Morandi on loan to the Murwillumbah region for the next two years, this partnership is a wonderful testament to the potential of Sharing the National Collection,” Mr Lindsay said.
One of Australia’s most notable and prolific still life painters, Olley drew inspiration from simple household objects, habitually using sculptural arrangements of leaves and flowers – dried or otherwise – revealing surface and texture through colour and light.
The arrival of the new Olley works – painted in the 1970s – will be shown alongside the re-creation of her famous home studio, which allows an immersive glimpse into her life and legacy as artist.
Morandi, himself a prolific still life painter, kept objects; vases, bottles and jars in his studio to use as subject matter in compositions. As like in Olley’s works, her use of pomegranates, and vases; the same objects can appear across his opus in various ways.
Natura morta [Still life] 1956 presents Morandi’s idiosyncratic use of prosaic formations and muted tones to present an intimate portrayal of domestic pieces.
Sharing the National Collection is part of Revive, Australia’s new National Cultural Policy, with $11.8 million over four years to fund the costs of transporting, installing and insuring works in the national collection so that they can be seen across the country for extended periods.
The works will be on view to the public until 26 October 2025. Entry remains free of charge. Group visits and tours must book via the Tweed Regional Gallery website.
These works of art are on long term loan from the National Gallery of Australia with support from the Australian Government as part of Sharing the National Collection.
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