Through contemplative observation of the light, colours, and textures of Aotearoa’s landscape, Ollivier captures the contrasts inherent in the natural world, imbuing her paintings with a serene tension that navigates the boundary between stillness and dynamism. In works that offer space for immersive introspection, the viewer is invited on a journey through the delicate interplay of form and atmosphere. A depth in understanding of nature’s complexity is evident in the quiet elegance of Ollivier’s pieces, each one a window into an expansive yet intimate vision of the Aotearoa’s native environment, and our place within it.

Ollivier’s adventurous parents were based in Nigeria at the time of her birth, and the young family continued to live there a further year before eventually returning to New Zealand and settling in Auckland. Ollivier went on to graduate from Elam School of Fine Arts (1997) and, after a series of successful solo exhibitions at Parnell Gallery between 1996 and 2008, took a hiatus from her studio practice to focus on raising her family and founding ‘Wild Things’, an art school for children. In late 2022, she reignited her artistic journey, motivated by a renewed sense of connection to the New Zealand landscape. Her works are held in private collections across New Zealand and internationally.

After a long-standing association, Parnell Gallery, which initially represented her from 1996 to 2008, resumed representation of Ollivier in 2023.