OLIVE
COTTON
Biography
1911 Born in Hornsby, Sydney
1922 Given a Kodak Box Brownie camera or her eleventh birthday, taught
the basics of photography by her father
1921-29 Attended Methodist Ladies College in Burwood
1929 Joined the Sydney Camera Circle and the Photographic Society of
NSW
1930-34 Bachelor of Arts, Sydney University, majoring in English and
mathematics
1934 Worked in the studio of childhood friend and fellow photographer,
Max Dupain
1939 Married Max Dupain. They separated two years later and divorced
in 1944
1941 Moved to Mittagong, NSW, to teach mathematics at Frensham School
1942-45 Returned to Sydney to manage Max Dupain’s studio while
he was on war service
1942 Produced first industrial and architectural photographic work
1944 Married farmer Ross McInerney before his departure overseas on
war service
1945 Numerous commissions, including photographs of winter and spring
flowers for Helen Blaxland’s book ‘Flowerpieces’
1946 Moved to Koorawatha near Cowra, NSW. Daughter Sally born 1946
1948 Son Peter born
1959-63 Taught mathematics at Cowra High School
1964 Opened a small photographic studio in Cowra, taking mainly portraits
and wedding photographs
1980 Photographs acquired by the Art Gallery of NSW following their
publication in Gael Newton's 'Silver and Grey:
Fifty years of Australian photography 1900-1950'
1982 Photographs from the 'Australian Women Photographers' exhibition
acquired by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
1986 Large group of photographs acquired by the National Gallery of
Australia
1989 Photographs purchased by the Waverley City Collection, Melbourne
1991 Release of 'Light Years', Kathryn Millard's documentary film on
the artist's life and work
1991 'Teacup Ballet' published on a stamp to mark the 150th anniversary
of photography in Australia
1992 Photographs purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria
Exhibitions
1932
Exhibited 'Dusk' in NSW Photographic Society's Interstate Exhibition
1935
'Teacup Ballet' included in the London Salon of Photography exhibition
1937
'Shatsa Daisies' and Winter Willows’ included in the London Salon
of Photography exhibition
'Shasta Daisies' and 'Quartet' included in the Victorian Salon of Photography
exhibition
'International Camera Pictures'
1938
Included in 'Commemorative Salon of Photography' exhibition held by
the Photographic Society
of NSW as part of the Australian 150th anniversary celebrations.
Exhibited with the Contemporary Camera Groupe at David Jones Gallery,
Sydney
1981
Included in the 'Australian Women Photographers 1890-1950' touring exhibition,
curated
by Jenni Mather, Christine Gillespie and Barbara Hall
1985
'Olive Cotton Photographs 1924-1984' retrospective held at the Australian
Centre for Photography,
Sydney, touring numerous regional galleries in NSW, Victoria
and Queensland throughout 1986
1988
Included in Bicentennial exhibition 'Shades of Light: Photography and
Australia' at the National Gallery of Australia
1989
Included in 'Masterpieces of Australian Photography 1850-1950', Josef
Lebovic Gallery, Sydney
1991
Solo exhibition in the Cowra Civic Chambers, organised by the Cowra
Arts Council
1992
Solo exhibition at aGOG, Canberra
Awards
1983 Australia Council Grant to make prints for retrospective exhibition
1993 Australia Council award of a Visual Arts/Craft Board's Emeritus
Fellowship
Collections
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Waverley City Council Collection, Melbourne
Many regional galleries and private collections
Sources
'Olive Cotton: Photographer', Introduction by Helen Ennis, National
Library of Australia, 1995
'Olive Cotton: Photographs', exhibition catalogue, Australian Girls
Own Gallery, Kingston ACT, 1992
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