Liam Barr

Liam Barr has been represented in ARTIS since 2012 and has held an exhibition every two years since 2014.

Born in Scotland in 1966 he immigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1974. Following a period of travel overseas, Barr settled in Perth, Western Australia, where he trained and worked as a graphic designer before returning to New Zealand in 2004 to further develop his art practice.

A recurring theme in Barr’s work is the idea of symbolism reflecting an aura of pathos, displacement and insight into contemporary New Zealand life. Barr’s finely honed skills convey his concerns with delicacy and perception aspects of the human condition. With a breath of irony his works delve into more serious concerns.

Art Historian Michael Dunn writes; “Barr comes across as a genuine conservationist with a real concern for New Zealand’s flora and fauna. But his manner of conveying his concerns is far from dry and proselytising. It is engaging and provocative and allows the viewer to get involved through his wit and striking juxtapositions of subject-matter”.

He goes on to describe Barr’s current work; “Liam Barr has always had affiliations with Surrealism and now works in a comparable time of political and social upheaval. Barr’s imagery is independent of the rational and the literal in its search for feelings and meanings beyond everyday experience. His painting is a vehicle for reflecting upon the issues that now confront society world-wide.”

Barr’s new exhibition ‘Out of Kilter’ 2022 reflects a Covid-19 world embedded with ideas of turmoil and confusion. Barr considers the work carefully and it demands reflection, not just a quick look. There is no clear narrative, no one meaning. He seems to capture a glimpse of the uncertainty in our society still riddled with confusion and fear. For both young and old these are parlous times and the new paintings shown in ‘Out of Kilter’ capture the psychological stress of the situation.

Barr’s paintings have been shown in public exhibitions – ‘Scape’, Whakatane Art Museum, ‘Tears For Tane’s Children’, Whangarei Art Museum and ‘Mind Games’, An Exhibition of Surrealism in Aotearoa, Hastings City Art Gallery.

A retrospective of Barr’s work was exhibited throughout Wellington via the Urban Art Foundation to promote New Zealand art to a wider community in 2020. This exhibition was extended to Turku, Finland as part of the International Urban Art Exchange.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS AT ARTIS

2022​ – Out of Kilter, Artis Gallery, Auckland
2020 – Still Lives, Artis Gallery, Auckland
2018 – Tethered, Artis Gallery, Auckland
2016 – Avian, Artis Gallery, Auckland
2014 – Lore & Behold, Artis Gallery, Auckland

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2021 – Submachine Magazine – 2nd Ed. Article by Al Best
2019 – Strange & Memorable, Michael Dunn, Art New Zealand, Autumn 2019
2018 – Journal Magazine – Edition 3. NZ
2017 – Miroir Magazine – Legend. USA
2016 – Making Sense of a small state, Peter Cleave. Campus Press, NZ
2016 – BloPop Magazine – Vol.2, Luciano Martinez, Spain
2015 – The Encyclopedia of Fernal Affairs, Liba W. Stambollion, France
2015 – Eclectix – interview 58, USA
2013 – Hey Magazine #13, Ankama Editions, France
2012 – Devining the Dream, Liba W. Stambollion, France
2008 – NZ Herald 20/9/08, Raise a glass to the small things, T.J. McNamara, NZ
2008 – Artnews – Spring 08, Excursions into Grand-Land, NZ
2007 – Auckland Herald 9/8/07, Arts editors pick of the week, T.J. McNamara, NZ
2007 – NZ Favourite Artists 2, Denis Robinson, NZ

ACADEMIC HISTORY

1992 – 1994 Diploma (dist.) Perth Metropolitan College of Art & Design, Perth W.A.

MAJOR COMMISSIONS

2019 – Art Historian, Michael R. Dunn
2014 – New Zealand Defence & Veteran Services.
Liam Barr accepted a commission by the NZ Defence Force Veteran Services to create an artwork to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. As a result he had the privilege of accompanying thirty NZDF veterans and personnel on a trip to South Korea. His experiences in South Korea culminated in a painting that became part of the NZDF art collection and was presented prior to ANZAC Day April 2014.
2014 – Dame Suzie Moncrieff – (World of Wearable Arts)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 – Out of Kilter: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2020 – Still Lives: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2018 – Tethered: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 – Avian: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 – Lore & Behold: Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2011 – Pakeha: John Leech Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2008 – Grand-Land: Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2007 – Hei Tiki – Hi Mate: Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2003 – Adrift – Journeys To The Other Me: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, W.A.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

2020 – International Urban Art Exchange (Digital), Nationwide, NZ/Turku, Finland
2020 – ‘Retrospective’ Urban Art Foundation (Digital), Wellington wide, NZ
2018 – ‘KM130’ NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2014 – ‘Scape’ Whakatane Art Museum, Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi, NZ
2009 – ‘Mind Games, An Exhibition of Surrealism in Aotearoa’ Hastings City Art Gallery, NZ
2007 – ‘Tears For Tane’s Children’, Whangarei Art Museum, Whangarei, NZ

COMPETITIONS/AWARDS

2017 – Parkin Drawing Prize, Wellington. NZ – Finalist
2015 – Wallace Art Awards, Finalist, Auckland. NZ – Finalist
2012 – Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, Whakatane Community Arts Council, Whakatane, NZ – Finalist
2010 – Adam Portraiture Award, NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington, NZ – Finalist
2008 – Waikato Painting & Printmaking Award, WSA, Hamilton, NZ – Finalist
2007 – Wallace Art Awards, Auckland. NZ – Finalist
2005 – Martin Hughes Pacific Art Award, MHG. Auckland. NZ