Australian artist Margaret Olley, much admired for her colourful still-life paintings, has died in Sydney aged¹ 88.

澳大利亚艺术家玛格丽特·奥利在悉尼逝世，享年88岁，她以其多彩的静物画而闻名于世。

Olley, pictured in 2005, was one of Australia's most respected artists
Born in 1923, she was - according to broadcaster and journalist Clive James - "beloved den-mother to the senior generation of Australian painters".

In 2006 she received the Companion of the Order of Australia - the country's highest civilian² honour - for her art, philanthropy（博爱，慈善） and mentoring³ of artists.

Olley was found dead at her home on Tuesday, her gallery confirmed.

"She was an artist, there was absolutely no other career for her," said Edmund Capon of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where many of Olley's paintings are displayed.

"As a painter, Margaret found a wealth of beauty, humanity and inspiration in the most humble⁴ and prosaic⁵（平凡的） of things."

Earlier this year, a portrait of Olley by the artist Ben Quilty won the Archibald Prize, one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious⁶ art awards.

Quilty told the Australian Associated Press that Olley was a "modern, contemporary lady" who "wanted people to strive（努力） to be better".

In an essay on his website, Clive James described Olley as "a highly sophisticated artist with a full range of learning in her medium".

The Australian commentator⁷ saluted⁸ "her sense of balance" and "generosity⁹ to the up-and-coming".