Artist

Barbara Mbitjana Moore grew up in Ti Tree in the Northern Territory. She moved to Amata in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of far north South Australia to live with her husband. Aside from painting, Moore is also an Aboriginal Senior Health Worker for Nganampa Health, and works full-time at the Amata Clinic.

The artist commenced painting at Tjala Arts (formerly Minymaku Arts) in 2003, and is committed to her painting practice, attending Tjala Arts daily to paint. Moore is known for her bold command of large scale works. She received the prestigious General Painting Award in 2012 at the 29th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.

Moore has since been a finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Moore was also a finalist in the 2016 John Fries Award.

Barbara Moore featured in the major survey exhibition 2016 Nganampa Kililpil – Our Stars at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea, New South Wales. Bringing together more than 100 artists from across the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands, the exhibition has been an important opportunity for the region to speak as a whole and to share unique cultural and artistic traditions.

In 2017 Barbara Moore was a finalist in the Wynne Prize and she was also included in TARNANTHI Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide from 2017-2018.

In 2019 Barbara Moore was once again a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2003     Minymaku Arts – Exhibition of Fabrics, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, USA

2007     Colours from our country, Harrison Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

2012     Tjala 2012, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

2012     APY All Stars, Short Street Gallery, Broome, Western Australia, Australia

2013     Tjukurpa nganampa kunpu kanyintjaku: Stories that keep culture strong, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

2013     APY Lands survey exhibition, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

2013     Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

2014     Tjintu kuwaritja wiru mulapa, ReDot Gallery, Singapore

2015     Kwarila Tjunguringayi - All together now, Short Street Gallery, Broome, Western Australia, Australia

2015     Tjintu wiru - Beautiful day, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

2017     Artists of the APY Lands, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

2017     Sharing Country, Olsen Gruin Gallery, New York, United States of America

2017-18Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Art Gallery of South Australia, South Australia

2018     Art of the APY Art Centre Collective, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Awards:

2012     Winner – General Painting Award, 29th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

2013     Finalist, 30th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award

2014     Finalist, 31st Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award

2015     Finalist, 32nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award\

2016     Finalist, 33rd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award

2016     Finalist, John Fries Award

2017     Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

2019     Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia