AGOD – Australian Gallery of Dreamings & EBEScontemporary have a responsibiliy to enable our indigenous artists = globally : AGOD seeks to help them eductate the world’s soul & mind. SEASONS is the key to ongoing harmony (living within our means / ecosystem / climate:-
MORE =
https://collection.qagoma.qld.gov.au/page/essay-i-object
https://www.artlink.com.au/articles/6102/65000-years-a-short-history-of-australian-art
https://www.johnmcdonald.net.au/category/art-essays/aboriginal-art
Barbara Weir
Life: c.1945 – 2023
Born: Bundy River, Utopia.
Languages: Anmatyerre/Alyawarre
Country: Atnwengerrp
Central Australia’s Barbara Weir has excited audiences all over the world with highly compelling abstract canvases that masterfully evoke a timeless illusion of depth and subtle rhythmic movement. It is an art that is as remarkable in its exquisite expression as is the story of her life. Her journey has been one of extraordinary courage, determination and achievement.
Barbara Weir was born Florrie Weir to her mother the late, famous Aboriginal artist,Minnie Pwerle and her father Jack Weir, an Irish Australian stock man who owned the station next to Utopia. Sadly, Barbara is also a member of a group of Aboriginal children known as the Stolen Generation who were forcibly removed from their families for welfare purposes. Barbara was just nine years old and her family believed that she had died after she was taken away. Instead Barbara was raised in a series of foster homes.
At the age of 18, working in Darwin, Barbara met and married Mervyn Torres. It was her husband who helped her discover her origins. He enquired after Minnie Pwerle and that led to Barbara being reunited with her mother in the 1960’s. Unable to speak either of her native languages, she first met her cousin, Kathleen Petyarre and reconnected with her mother through the help of Kathleen and her aunts. During this time, she became extremely close to her Aunt – Emily Kame Kngwarreye – Australia’s most significant female artist. After her divorce in 1977, Barbara returned permanently to Utopia with her six children and became active in the local land rights movement. She was elected the first woman president of the Indigenous Urapunta Council in 1985.
Barbara’s career as an artist was inspired by the dynamic community of artists at Utopia and the work of Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Emily’s work had a profound impact on her and in the early 1990’s she began seriously to explore her artistic talents. Barbara began painting and developed a sophisticated, contemporary painting style. In 1994, she and other Aboriginal women travelled to Indonesia to learn batik techniques and in 1998, Barbara travelled to the US and all over Europe to exhibit her artworks.
Her paintings include representations of particular plants and Dreamings, inspired by deep Aboriginal tradition. Barbara is most famous for her vibrant contemporary depictions of Grass Seeds, but since the passing of her mother, she has revisited her ‘My Mothers Country’ or ‘My Mothers Story’ Dreaming, producing significant paintings with deep meaning and spirituality. For this Dreaming, Barbara creates an other worldly feel in her expression using finely executed dots in which float over organic shapes. These shapes are the areas where she has over painted to conceal symbols of sacred story that are painted beneath and not meant to be seen. Such areas refer to secret abandoned campsites that people made as they trekked across the country in search of food, women’s coolamons used to collect fruit and berries and/or forms of women’s body that are adorned with paint for ceremony. Sometimes she incorporates the linear patterns to represent women’s body designs – stripes that are traditionally applied to breasts, arms and legs for ceremonies known as Awelye.
Barbara is a highly talented, inventive, creative, energetic and hard working artist who pushes her own artistic boundaries in telling the complex and spiritual stories of her family and her people. Because of this, her important part in the Utopian community, her family connections and her difficult early life experiences, she became a highly collectible artist who even in death continues to grow in stature.
Barbara passed way in Alice Springs in January, 2023.
Collections:
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Art Gallery of Queensland, Brisbane
Artbank, Sydney
Queensland College of Art Griffith University
Hank Ebes Collection-Workum, The Netherlands
The Art Gallery of Western Australia (through grant by Rio Tinto)
University of Adelaide, Adelaide
AMP Collection
Hitachi Collection
Macquarie Bank Collection
Exhibitions:
1995, 1997, 2003, Dacou Gallery, Adelaide
1995, Davis Avenue Gallery, Melbourne
1996, 2002, Framed Gallery, Darwin
1996, Gallery Woo Mang and Partners, Paris, France
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney
1996, 1997, 1998, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
1997, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
1997, Hogarth Galleries, Sydney
1997, Sutton Gallery, Melbourne
1997, Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney
1998, ARTEXPO, New York, USA
1998, 2001, Chapman Gallery, Canberra
1998, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1998, Exhibited extensively in Europe including: Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands
1999, 2002, Japingka Gallery, Perth
1999, 2000, 2001, Tandanya, Adelaide
1999, 2000, 2002, Gallery Savah, Sydney
2000, ArtSauce, Singapore
2000, Redback Art Gallery, Brisbane
2000, AMP Building, Sydney
2000, “Women’s Business”, Chicago, USA
2001, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs
2002, Knut Grothe Galeri, Charlottlenlund, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne
2003, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Melbourne
2003, 2004 Group exhibitions, ‘Framed – The Darwin Gallery’ Darwin, NT.
2002, 2004 Solo exhibition at Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2004, 05, 06 Group exhibitions, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2005, 2006 Group Utopia exhibitions, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2005, 06, 07 Group exhibition, University of NSW, Shalom Department, Kensington,
2006 Solo exhibition, “Recent Paintings”, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW.
2006 ‘Utopia’, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2006 Group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne,
2007 Group exhibition, Robert Steele Gallery, NY, USA.
2007 “Standing on Ceremony”, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2007 Utopia exhibition, Robert Steele Gallery, NY, USA.
2007 Group exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA.
2007 Group exhibition, “Desert Diversity”, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne,
2007 Group exhibition, “Treasures of the Spirit – Investing in Aboriginal Art”, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2007 Group exhibition, Annual APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
2007 “Best of the Best”, group exhibition, Gallery Framed, Darwin, NT.
2007 Solo exhibition, “Blowing in the Wind”, Artmob, Hobart, TAS.
2007 “New Works from Utopia”, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
2008 “Utopia Revisited”, NG Art Gallery, Chippendale, NSW.
2009 Listed in Australian Art Collector magazine as one of the 50 Australia’s Most Collectible Artists.
Bibliography:
McCulloch, Susan (2005). “Late Bloomer [Profile of artist Minnie Pwerle]”.
Top 50 Collectible Australian Artists: Art Collector 32 (Apr–Jun 2005): 84–88.
The Art of Utopia: A New Direction in Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Michael Boulter, 1991
Usher, Robin (15 July 2004). “Joining dots on the way to Utopia”. The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
McCulloch, Alan; Susan McCulloch; Emily McCulloch Childs (2006). The New McCulloch’s Encyclopaedia of Australian Art. Fitzroy, VIC: Aus Art Editions in association with The Miegunyah Press.
Fortescue, Elizabeth; Werner Obermeier (2008). Art of Utopia. Adelaide, SA: Boomerang Art.
Lacey, Stephen (18 November 2006). “Spirited away, but with a happy ending”. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
Beck, Chris (18 February 2006). “The Pwerle Sisters”. The Age. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
“Emily in Japan Part 1”. Message Stick (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 26 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
King, Victoria (2000). “Barbara Weir”. In Sylvia Kleinert and Margo Neale. The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Fortescue, Elizabeth; Werner Obermeier (2008). Art of Utopia. Adelaide, SA: Boomerang Art.
Birnberg, Margo; Janusz Kreczmanski (2004). Aboriginal Artist Dictionary of Biographies: Australian Western, Central Desert and Kimberley Region. Marleston, South Australia: J.B. Publishing.
Green, Jenny (2007). “Holding the Country: Art from Utopia and the Sandover”.
In Hetti Perkins & Margie West. One Sun One Moon: Aboriginal Art in Australia. Sydney: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Kreczmanski, Janusz B & Birnberg, Margo (eds.): Aboriginal Artists: Dictionary of Biographies: Central Desert, Western Desert & Kimberley Region (JB Publishing Australia, Marleston, 2004)
Aug 04, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Body Paint”, Acrylic on canvas., 120cm x 90cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD1,000
Jul 27, 2026
Lawsons
Sold: AUD2,600
Jul 27, 2026
Lawsons
Sold: AUD6,000
Jul 15, 2026
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Passed
Jun 25, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Wild Bush Blossoms”, Acrylic on canvas., 83cm x 129cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD550
Jun 25, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “My Country”, Acrylic on linen., 182cm x 120cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD1,700
Jun 25, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Body Paint”, Acrylic on canvas., 120cm x 90cm
Ozbid Auctions
Passed
Jun 23, 2026
Barbara Weir, (1940-2023), Grass Seed, 2000, acrylic on canvas, 122 x 92 cm
Shapiro Auctioneers
Sold: AUD1,900
Jun 23, 2026
Barbara Weir, (1940-2023), My Mother’s Country, 2012, acrylic on linen, 94 x 122 cm
Shapiro Auctioneers
Passed
May 17, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Grass Seeds Dreaming”, Acrylic on linen., 120cm x 60cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD2,200
May 17, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), My Mother’s Country”, Acrylic on belgian linen., 51cm x 150cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD3,250
May 17, 2026
BARBARA WEIR (1940-2023), Grass Seeds
Gibson’s
Sold: AUD2,200
May 05, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (1940 – 2023), My Mother’s Country 2007, synthetic polymer paint on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD8,000
May 05, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (1940 – 2023), Grass Seed Dreaming 2004, synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD6,500
Apr 27, 2026
Lawsons
Passed
Apr 22, 2026
Barbara Weir, acrylic on linen.
E J Ainger
Sold: AUD260
Apr 16, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, GRASS SEED 2003,
Leonard Joel
Sold: AUD340
Apr 13, 2026
Barbara Weir, Utopia, Sandover (1940-2023), My Mother’s Country, 2006, acrylic on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD3,000
Apr 07, 2026
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Wild Bush Blossoms”, Acrylic on canvas., 83cm x 129cm
Ozbid Auctions
Passed
Mar 09, 2026
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Passed
Feb 17, 2026
BARBARA WEIR (1940-2023), Grass 2006
Gibson’s
Passed
Jan 08, 2026
Lawsons
Sold: AUD1,200
Dec 15, 2025
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Grass Seeds – My Mother’s Country”, Acrylic on canvas., 60cm x 32cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD700
Dec 07, 2025
BARBARA WEIR, (c.1940-2023), “Grass Seeds – My Mother’s Country”, Acrylic on canvas., 50cm x 50cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD1,200
Nov 10, 2025
Barbara Weir, Eastern Anmatyerre/Alyawarre (1945-2023), Grass Seed Dreaming, Acrylic on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD200
Oct 27, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD6,000
Oct 11, 2025
Barbara Weir (c. 1945 – 2023) Grass Seed Dreaming, 2008
Millon & Associes
Passed
Sep 30, 2025
Barbara Weir, Eastern Anmatyerre/Alyawarre (1945-2023), Untitled, Acrylic on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD4,800
Sep 22, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD3,500
Aug 13, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD700
Aug 11, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD950
Jul 30, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD850
Jun 09, 2025
Lawsons
Sold: AUD1,800
AGOD / EBEScontemporary has the largest collection of EMILY paintings (if you want to own one – contact us – prices range from under $100,000 to over $1m+++; sizes range from small to extra large (we also have a range or Rovers +++; we have the largest collection of Australian indigenous dot paintings, Aboriginal Art – in the world = all for sale. AND because we own our building and commissioned most of the art directly – with the artists = prior to the art centres even existed (you pay no gallery commission; generally 50%; nor do you need to pay the 20% buyers premium – if you were to buy your Emily via an auction house (so contact us if you want to invest : Australian Aboriginal Art : 100,000 years in the making.
August 16, 2026
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