BIO & CV

Robert Barton - Biography

Born: Mount Isa 27 December 1968

Language Group: Kalkadoon

Lives: Brisbane, Australia

Profile: Robert is member of the Kalkadoon people from far North Western Queensland near Mount Isa.

Robert is a contemporary Aboriginal artist and has been a regular on the Queensland art scene over the last six years. Robert's works are renowned for their innovative use of colour, texture and form and are underpinned by strong references to his Indigenous cultural heritage. To this end, Robert's work draws heavily on the traditional iconography and symbols of his people to create modern masterpieces.

Robert's visual range and repertoire span a diverse array of styles and genres and his striking works juxtapose the deeply ancient with the profoundly modern. Blends of two cultures brought together as one in an artistic testament to Reconciliation. In such works, the viewer finds solace in familiar forms and support to explore the artist's poignant visions of an unfamiliar but beautiful land seen in sensuous lines, rich colours and earthen textures. These recurring themes of land and identify are delicately interwoven through the artist's exquisite technique and subtle motifs and brought to life.

Robert's mission is to create understanding through art and change people's perceptions about Aboriginal people and in particular redefine their understandings of Aboriginal art.And each artwork elegantly carries out its purpose and contributes to the viewer's understanding and appreciation in a way that few can match.

Solo Exhibitions

2008 Between the Dreaming and the Dawn, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane

2007 Urban Dreaming, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane

2006 Generations, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane

2005 Long way home, Graydon Gallery, Brisbane

2004 Now and then, Manitzsky Gallery, Mount Tamborine

Selected Group Exhibitions

2008 Finalist in National Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize - Darwin, Australia

2008 Indigenous performer in the Official opening of the Olympic Games - Beijing, China

2007 Abused Child Trust Art Show, Brisbane St Elizabeth Summer Exhibition, Brisbane Deadly Experience, Brisbane

2006 Abused Child Trust Art Show, Brisbane St Elizabeth Summer Exhibition,

2005 Abused Child Trust Art Show, Brisbane

2004 Courier Mail Art Show, Brisbane Lions Rotary Art show, Brisbane

Bibliography

Australian Art Collector Guidebook 2010

Barton, William. Cover art for music score - Didgeridoo Concerto for Quartet and Didgeridoo. 2007

Freebody, Peter. Australian Education Review: Literacy Education in School. Australian Council for Educational Research. Camberwell, Victoria 2008

Hutton, Casey. Join the Dots. Style Magazine, June 2008

Rhydwen, Mari. New South Wales Department of Education, Aboriginal Perspectives in Languages Teaching, March 2010.

Quest News, Family lives tradition, Thursday 8 November 2007

Collections

Robert's work is held in numerous private and corporate collections in Australia and overseas including Japan, United States, England, and Brazil.

A little background on our art

I have many memories of growing up as an Indigenous person in the early 1970's. At the time, I wasn't in a position to take a second or third position view on these experiences - I just lived them as they happened. As an adult however, I've taken time to reflect back on these times and this heavily informs my art work.