Barbara Weir is one of the most collected, travelled and published indigenous artist with an international reputation making it into the ‘TOP100 List’ of Indigenous artists.

There have been numerous exhibitions of her work both in Australia and overseas. Initial acclaim came with exhibitions in Paris and Switzerland in 1996. Her work was then shown in exhibitions in Japan, the USA, Mexico and Fiji. Her first Australian solo show, “Dreamworks”, was a sellout. Success at that level has continued with Barbara frequently visiting foreign countries to show and discuss her work. She has become perhaps the most widely travelled painter in the history of Australian art.

Barbara Weir is product of an area that has produced many great painters...Utopia. Indeed, in the present day Barbara ranks right up with the best. Her life has been a chequered one but now she enjoys international fame as one of the most collected indigenous artists of all time.

Her emergence as a painter coincided happily with a great boom in sales of indigenous art. Her unique style coupled with a natural ability to apply paint to canvas in a very engaging way has meant that her colorful and dynamic images have captured the imagination of a generation of collectors. These paintings are enhanced by a knowledge of her remarkable life and her struggle against the odds as one of the ‘stolen generation’.

Barbara’s story has been told many times and it reflects, quite perfectly, attitudes to indigenous people in Australia during the decades of the 1950s to the 1990s. Her career began and flourished during the latter part of that era.

Barbara Weir was born in 1945 at Bundy River Station in the Utopia area, North East of Alice Springs. Her father was Irish station owner Jack Weir, and her mother was Minnie Pwerle, herself one of the most famous of the Utopia painters.

 The welfare officers that patrolled Utopia and other areas in the 1950s sought particularly to protect mixed heritage children and Barbara was hidden from them from the age of two. She spent seven years with her aunty, the famous Emily Kngwarreye and was, in indigenous terms, ‘grown up‘ by her.

Aged nine, however, she was taken away to Bungalow, now the ‘Telegraph Station’ at Alice Springs and later to other children’s homes around the country.

English became her main language during those years when she was away from ‘home’; a time when she reluctantly grew away from her mother and family at Utopia. Barbara had little control over her own destiny, but that changed towards the end of the 1960s. By that time she had three children and had determined that she would return to Utopia and her family there. She had forgotten most of her Anmatyerre language by this time and this proved something of a barrier in her attempts to integrate.

Resuming her relationship with her Aunty Emily, Barbara became involved first with the batik movement at Utopia and later with the painting movement. In this way the young artist became a contributor to the flourishing movement that is Utopia art.

It might be said that there are no art schools in the desert and, like Barbara, painters learn their skills by watching those around them. In her case she could not have had a more outstanding mentor, nor could she have developed in a place which had more concern with wonderful artworks made with non- traditional materials.

Emily’s influence may be seen in Barbara’s free-flowing style and ‘loose‘ paint application. However, it must also be noted that Barbara developed her own subjects and these, most notably her ’grass‘ paintings, have set her apart from her peers and contemporaries. In more recent times Barbara has experimented widely with different images and methods of paint application. In this sense she is a highly original and inventive painter. Accordingly she has made a strong contribution to the fact that Utopia is now the most highly regarded area of indigenous art production in the country.

Her marriage ended in 1977 and she returned permanently to Utopia with her six children. Coinciding with her return she found a number of the women, and particularly Emily Kngwarreye, were involved with the newly introduced batik movement. This was indeed fortuitous for Barbara, now 32 years old. A new career beckoned.

As a painter her career really took full flight in 1994. She had visited Indonesia with other artists from Utopia. They went to learn about and explore the possibilities of batik. However, for Barbara, this journey inspired ideas about painting. After a period of figurative, traditional work her style became more symbolic and evolved towards abstraction. The dreamings she depicted included Bush Berry, My Mothers Country and Grass Seed. The latter has become, as is the case with Gloria Petyarre’s ‘Medicine Leaf Dreaming’, one of the most successful images ever in the history of Australian art. As is the case with most indigenous women’s painting, these dreamings are all associated with women’s body decoration for ceremony. Involved also is the notion of food gathering, including bush tucker such as seeds, berries, plums and yams. The latter, of course, was prolifically and famously painted by Emily Kngwarreye.

Traditionally, food gathering dominated the lives of indigenous women. Barbara experienced this as a child and again on her return to Utopia as an adult. For her, the grass seed, which was crushed into flour after collection and then used to make bread, was to become a dominant image. The grass, called Lyaw, Munyeroo or Pigsweed, and its seed had provided sustenance to her people for thousands of generations. Accordingly, she had an affection and understanding for it. Her paintings of this subject show it in various ways ... sometimes on fire ... sometimes after fire, and sometimes in periods of lush growth. The swaying rhythms of the grass provide the foundations for original and seductive paintings. These, however, take on a great depth and appeal when the underlying story is revealed.

This last notion is particularly true of another remarkable image that Barbara has developed. This is the enigmatic and moving “My Mother’s Country”

This work, often repeated as one of her major ‘dreamings’, takes on the abstract qualities upon which her later work’s are constructed. Indeed since about 2004 Barbara has developed as a ‘painter’s painter’. That is, she displays many qualities of brushwork, form and color which situate her in the mainstream of contemporary art worldwide. This is not to deny her Aboriginal heritage, but Barbara has achieved recognition as a pure ‘painter’, something that has evaded other outstanding indigenous artists, many of whom simply want to be known as ‘painters‘ rather than ‘indigenous painters’.

It is appropriate then that Barbara, a world traveler, and a great ambassador for her people, also be recognized in the wider world for her creative talents.

Exhibitions

2021 Voyage across Aboriginal Australia – Founders’ Favourites, Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Moitiers, Switzerland.

2021 Of the Land, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2021 Top Ten Artists 2020, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2020  Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute  

2020 A Vision of Country: Australian Aboriginal Landscapes, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2020 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2020 Pointillism Perfection, Art Mob, Hobart.

2020 Director’s Choice 2020, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2020 Top Ten – Our Most Popular Artists 2019, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2019 Summer Show & Art Parade, Salt, Queenscliff, VIC.

2019 defining tradition | black + white, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2019 Matches 6 – Group Exhibition – Featuring Barbara Weir, Ian Bettinson, Jack Britten, Lilly Kelly Napangardi, Minnie Pwerle, Tony Tuckson & Yvonne Mills-Stanley, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.

2019 International Women’s Day, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2019 Spring Collection: Exhibition to celebrate our beautiful Spring Collection, Brenda Colahan Fine Art, Sydney.

2019 Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2018 Pwerle Gallery ‘Utopia exhibition of four generations’, Adelaide.

2018 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2018 20/20 Vision: 20 Years 20 Women, Brenda Colahan Fine Art, Sydney.

2018 Earth’s Creation, Emily Kame and Family, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2017 Atnwengerrp Revisited | Family Show and Artist in Residence Programme, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2015 Women of Papunya, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2014 New to View: Utopia, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.

2013 Desert Rouges, Histoires Aborigenes Gallery, Galerie Art Diaphragme, Auxerre, France.

2013 Prendre de la Hauteur, Histoires Aborigenes Gallery, Fort Griffon IUFM FC, Besancon, France.

2012 Identites, Histoires Aborigenes Gallery, Toucy, France.

2012 Little Gems, Japingka Gallery, Perth.

2012 Heirs and Successors, Japingka Gallery, Perth.

2011 New Beginnings, Brits Arts and Promotions, Uebach-Palenberg, Germany.

2010 Stories from the Centre, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney.

2010 Desert Art from Utopia, DACOU Gallery, Melbourne.

2010 Tradition to Modernity: A Showcase of Unique Contemporary Indigenous work from Central Desert Regions, Central Art Deloraine.

2010 Artitja: The Gift Collection – Art and Objects: small and affordable, Artitja Fine Art Gallery, Fremantle.

2010 The Imprint Utopia Collection, Central Art, Deloraine.

2010 McCulloch’s Aboriginal Art @ Flinders 2010: A Summer Exhibition from The Lands, Salt Contemporary Art, Queenscliff.

2010 Quand Fleurit le Desert Autralien, Dz Galerie, Noumea, New Caledonia.

2009 My Country, DACOU Gallery, Melbourne.

2009 Utopia, Colours of the Desert, Gongpyeong Art Space in collaboration with Dacou, Australian Embassy in Korea and Crossbay Gallery, Seoul.

2009 Janet Holmes a Court Gallery, Perth.

2009 A decade of Australias indigenous fine art 1999-2009, Salt Gallery, Queenscliff.

2008 Utopia Discoveries, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne.

2008 Blue: A Group Exhibition, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.

2008 Gecko Gallery, Broome.

2008 Walking Together to Aid Aboriginal Health, Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, University of NSW, Sydney.

2008 Dreamings – The Land, Outback Aboriginal Art, Melbourne.

2008 Red Rock Gallery, Beijing.

Feb 2008  “Utopia Revisited”, NG Art Gallery, Chippendale, NSW.

Oct 2007   “New Works from Utopia”, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh,
PA, USA.

Oct 2007  Solo exhibition, “Blowing in the Wind”, Artmob, Hobart, TAS.

Oct 2007  “Best of  the Best”, group exhibition, Gallery Framed, Darwin, NT.

Sept 2007  Group exhibition, Annual APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.

Aug 2007  Group exhibition, “Treasures of the Spirit – Investing in Aboriginal Art”, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.

July 2007  Group exhibition, “Desert Diversity”, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.

July 2007  Group exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA.

June 2007  Utopia exhibition, Robert Steele Gallery, NY, USA.

Feb 2007  “Standing on Ceremony”, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.

January 2007  Group exhibition, Robert Steele Gallery, NY, USA.

1997 – 2007   Permanent exhibition DACOU, Adelaide, SA.

Aug 2006  Group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne, VIC.

July 2006  ‘Utopia’, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.

May 2006  Solo exhibition, “Recent Paintings”, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.

2005, 06, 07  Group exhibition, University of NSW, Shalom Department, Kensington, NSW.

2005, 2006  Group Utopia exhibitions, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.

2004, 05, 06  Group exhibitions, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.

2002, 2004  Solo exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.

2003, 2004  Group exhibitions, ‘Framed – The Darwin Gallery’ Darwin, NT.

October  2002 Solo exhibition at Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

August 2002 ‘A Collectable Aboriginal Art Event’- combined exhibition at Raintree Gallery, Darwin, NT.

August 2002 Selected entrant in the 2002, 19th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

July 2002  ‘Generations Utopia”- combined exhibition at Japingka Gallery, Perth, Western Australia.

May 2002 ‘Contemporary Aboriginal Art From The Utopia Region”- combined exhibition at BMGART, Adelaide, SA.

May 2002  Mixed Utopia exhibition at Galeri a Le Temps Du Reve France.

April 2002 “Paintings From Utopia”- combined exhibition at ‘Framed- The Darwin Gallery”, Darwin, NT.

April 2002 Mixed Utopia exhibition at Knut Grothe Galeri in
Charlottlenlund, Copenhagen.

February 2002 “Reunited” – Exhibited with mother, Minnie Pwerle at Alison Kelly Gallery, Armadale, Victoria.

October 2001 At the invitation of the Japanese museum Barbara attended the opening of ‘Nangara”- with all paintings being part of The Ebes Collection.

Sept 2001  ‘2001 An Art Odyssey”- combined exhibition celebrating The Centenary of Federation. Exhibited in the West End: Adelaide’s Art Precinct.

June  2001  “Two Women- Dreamings”- Dreamtime Gallery- Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA-  exhibited with Gloria Petyarre.

May 2001 ‘Painting Country”- combined exhibition at Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.

May 2001   “Desert Colour, My Country”- combined exhibition Raintree Aboriginal Art Gallery, Darwin, NT.

May 2001 ‘Women Artists of the Australian Desert”- combined Exhibition at Gallery 2021, Auckland, New Zealand.

Feb  2001  Combined exhibition- “Out of Utopia”- Chapman Gallery   Canberra.

Feb 2001  Combined exhibition – Alison Kelly Gallery- Armadale VIC.

Feb 2001  Selected artist to be included in the prestigious YPO Conference in Sydney, NSW organised by Tim Jennings from Mbantua Gallery- Alice Springs, NT.

Nov 2000 Selected entrant for the Redlands Westpac Art Prize-Mosman Art Gallery, NSW

Nov 2000 Combined exhibition- ‘Women’s Business” at The Australian Exhibition Centre- Chicago, USA.

Sept 2000 DACOU in association with AMP-an official sponsor of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, hosted an exhibition of mixed Utopia art in the AMP building Sydney.

Sept 2000 Combined exhibition at Mary Place Gallery- Sydney.

June 2000 Combined exhibition, Gordes, Vaucluse, France.

May 2000 Combined exhibition- Quadrivium Gallery- Sydney NSW.

May 2000 Combined exhibition- Tandanya Cultural Institute- Adelaide.

April 2000 Solo exhibition, “Discovery”, Gallery Savah- Sydney NSW.

March 2000 Solo exhibition- “Gathering the Past”- Redback Art Gallery- Brisbane.

February 2000 Combined exhibition – “An Affair to Remember” – ArtSauce – Singapore.

November 1999 Solo exhibition ‘Dream Works”- Gallery Savah- Sydney

September 1999 Combined exhibition- North Shore Fine Art- Sydney.

August 1999  Solo exhibition- Flinders Lane Gallery- Melbourne.

August 1999  Combined exhibition- Gallery Savah- Sydney.

June 1999  Combined exhibition – “Caring For Country” Tandanya Cultural Institute- Adelaide.

June 1999  Selected entrant in the 16th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

May 1999  Combined exhibition -Utopia V- Quadrivium Gallery- Sydney.

March 1999  Combined exhibition- “Bush Garden”- Japingka Gallery, Fremantle.

Feb 1999  Combined exhibition- ‘Utopia”- BMG Art- Adelaide.

1998   Jack Ellis exhibition – Seattle, USA.

1998   Exhibited extensively in Europe including:
Art Felchlin- Zurich- Switzerland
Gallery Griffiouen- Belgium
Boomerang Gallery- Amsterdam
Kunsdcentoum Aalst- Belgium
Kunsdcentoum Dendermonde- Belgium
Frank Popko Gallery- Rees, Germany
Ebes Collection- Workum, Netherlands

Dec 1998 Combined exhibition in The Adelaide Festival Theatre.

Sept 1998 Combined exhibition, Flinders Lane Gallery- Melbourne.

Aug 1998 Selected entrant for the 15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for 1998.

June 1998 Combined exhibition- SCECGS Redlands- Sydney.

May 1998 Combined exhibition “Utopia IV” Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney.

Solo exhibition, Chapman Gallery, Canberra.

March 1998 ARTEXPO New York in association with Mandurah Ltd – New York.

Feb 1998 Combined exhibition, “Women Painters Of The Desert’ FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.

Dec 1997  Combined exhibition, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane.

Nov 1997 Solo exhibition, Barry Stern Gallery- Sydney.

Aug 1997 Selected entrant in the 14th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award for 1997.

July 1997 Combined exhibition, Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney,NSW.

June 1997 Combined exhibition “Ten Years On”, Sutton Gallery, Melbourne.

March 1997 Solo exhibition at DACOU Gallery in Adelaide.

Combined exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne.

January 1997 Combined exhibition at Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney NSW

Combined exhibition at DACOU Gallery in Adelaide

Participation in “Dreamings of the Desert” artist in residence program for the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Combined exhibition at Hogarth Gallery in Sydney.

Yearly Solo exhibition Aboriginial Gallery of Dreamings.

November 1996 Solo exhibition at Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland.

August 1996 Combined exhibition at Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney.

July 1996 Combined exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne.

May 1996 Combined exhibition at Gallery Woo Mang and Partners, Paris, France.

Feb 1996 Combined exhibition at “Framed”, Darwin.

August 1995  Davis Avenue Gallery, Melbourne.

January 1995 DACOU Gallery, Adelaide.

Collections

The Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

Queensland College of Art Griffith University

Art Gallery of Queensland, Brisbane

Artbank, Sydney

Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Brisbane

Hank Ebes Collection, Melbourne

University of Adelaide, Adelaide

AMP Investments Collection, Sydney

British Embassy, Canberra

Fred Torres Collection

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Holmes a Court Collection, Perth

Hitachi Collection

Macquarie Bank Collection, Sydney

Museo Sa Bassa Blanca, Mallorca, Spain

Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Moitiers, Switzerland