John Olsen's exhibition 'Salute to Sydney: Olsen at Eighty' opened to tremendous acclaim in November 2007 and signalled the official opening of the new Tim Olsen Gallery on Jersey Rd. Tim hosted a red carpet gala event that was attended by many Olsen devotees together with notable artists, actors, writers and television personalities.



Long time friend and director of the Art Gallery of NSW Edmund Capon opened the exhibition that marks an important shift in Olsen's paintings from the vast dry interior to Sydney's harbour and beaches.  In the excerpt of the evenings events John Olsen also reflects on his childhood spent on Sydney's shores that provides the central motivation for this beautiful collection of paintings.