About art
Meet the campaign artist: Nick Olsen
Brisbane-based contemporary artist Nick Olsen's vibrant work takes centre stage in our campaign for Affordable Art Fair Brisbane (8 - 11 May).
Victoria Barns
Wednesday 19 February, 2025
To celebrate the much-anticipated return of Affordable Art Fair Brisbane, we sat down with featured artist Nick Olsen to find out more about his practice, how Brisbane has influenced his paintings, and what you can expect to see from him at Red Hill Gallery’s stand this May 8 – 11.
“Being a Brisbane based artist means big skies, colourful clouds, storms on hot roads and hot tin.”
Nick Olsen
How has being based in Brisbane influenced your artistic practice, and are there any local landmarks or experiences that inspire your work?
Being a Brisbane-based artist means big skies, colourful clouds, storms on hot roads and hot tin. Moving around is often like being on a roller coaster and the hills provide viewpoints. I like views and how the shadows move across them. So I drive around a lot to find a new view to draw. I also spend a lot of time observing and documenting the local architecture. I see houses and I imagine them as characters with stories, reflecting the essence of a ‘Brisbane’ sense of place. The Paddington Water Tower and St Brigid’s Church in Red Hill are landmarks that appear in my work as markers of the western suburbs, just as important in my visual language are the fibro beach shacks dotted along our coastal communities. They represent escape to the freedom offered by nature away from the city.
“I see houses and I imagine them as characters with stories”
Your work ‘Close to Heaven’ is on this year’s Affordable Art Fair Brisbane campaign. Can you tell us more about this piece?
‘Close to Heaven’ is a close-up of the light play on a chunky little caravan in situ. As a child I spent many holidays at Nana’s house in Redcliffe, a block back from the beach. The peace and freedom of those 70s days riding around the sleepy streets on my bike come to mind. Next door to Nana’s was Bells Caravan park and I’d muck around with the holidaying kids, in and out of old caravans. So, this painting is a symbol of the simplicity and humble nature of that time. I’ve often enjoyed painting the slightly organic form of caravans and like the way they encapsulate a feeling of a single moment or memory.
“The peace and freedom of those 70s days riding around the sleepy streets on my bike come to mind…this painting is a symbol of the simplicity and humble nature of that time.”
You have an incredible sense of light and colour in your work. Could you share some insights into the techniques you use to create such atmospheric, nostalgic scenes?
Painting to me is a series of continuous explorations where I push and pull paint. I like to let the process lead me, not thinking too much about the end product. So experimentation is central to this process. Colour, texture, surface work together to bring life to the ordinary. Little colour surprises initiate an emotional response which begins a narrative or memory.
Thin layers of colour form an under layer where I make preliminary drawings. I then work over these layers two or three times allowing accidental combinations to reveal themselves. Many of the subjects that interest me are unbleached or aged so thin translucent layers of colour create this feeling.
“Little colour surprises initiate an emotional response which begins a narrative or memory.”
What has been a memorable moment of your career to date?
I was awarded the Royal overseas League Travelling Scholarship in 2010/11. This prestigious worldwide award is presented to four artists from around the Commonwealth each year. This included a six-week residency in a Scottish castle and participation in an exhibition in London, UK.
“I often work late into the evening, but only after cooking dinner for my family.”
As an artist, how does a typical day look like for you?
My mornings begin with a walk through the forest with my blue heeler, followed by a few laps at the pool. By 10 am, I’m in the studio, starting a day of production. Mornings are often spent framing and packaging sold artworks, preparing them for shipment to clients across the country. After lunch, I focus on painting— whether it’s preparing canvases, undercoating, working on commissions, or getting ready for an exhibition. Some days include making deliveries, sketching outdoors, or taking reference photos for future pieces. No matter where I go, I’m always searching for new subjects to paint. I often work late into the evening, but only after cooking dinner for my family. Music is always playing in the background, helping to transport my imagination.
Thank you to Nick for taking the time to sit down with us. Don’t miss seeing Nick Olsen’s wonderful artwork in person at Red Hill Gallery’s stand this Affordable Art Fair Brisbane, 8 – 11 May at the Brisbane Showgrounds Exhibition Building.
