ABOUT
I am an independent artist based in the Central West town of Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia.
I exhibit my work in my gallery in the main street of Canowindra and occasionally I exhibit with other commercial galleries with whom I collaborate and from popup exhibitions that I organise.
I am self taught. Although I studied at university, a degree in French, German and Italian, I hadn't studied art and so I was, even in the beginning quite an independent artist. The thought of someone teaching me doesn't resonate, but others' work is often very inspiring.
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Due to a vacuum of commercial art galleries in the Central West at the time, I opened my own gallery in Canowindra and that cemented my choice to operate with that model. I also paint in different series at the same time which can often conflict with the model of exhibiting with that of other commercial galleries.
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My early series, the Roses and Poppies series were almost meditative studies in technique. The fundamental lollie pop formation in conjunction with fine line work and patterning from even earlier work formed the basis of the Jacques and Magic Hill Series. I combined stylised abstraction with the easily identifiable - trees, petals etc. This motive became predominant through later series. The last ten years or so has seen a far greater influence of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, whose work I have always greatly admired and this is most evident in the Crane and Cicada and Plum series.
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Another huge influence on my work is that of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Persian and Byzantine art. To bring it to the most basic of influences I think it is the use of gold and silver and fine detail. Klimt himself was enamoured by the mosaics of Byzantium and it is through his work that I developed the same response.
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My paintings are in private collections throughout Australia, France, England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, China, and New Zealand.
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Couriering within Australia is included in the price of the paintings. International couriering is also available to most countries however I ask you to contact me prior as I am unable to courier to some countries. Pack and Send is the preferred courier for local and international couriering requirements.
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EXHIBITIONS AT EXTERNAL GALLERIES
2017 Finalist Calleen Art Award
2016 Pop Up Show at the former Melissa Barber Galleries building Canowindra
2016 The Cicada and the Plum Solo exhibition at The Corner Store Gallery Orange
2015 Finalist Central West Regional Art Award
2014 Finalist Central West Regional Art Award
2013 Finalist Central West Regional Art Award
2012 Exhibition at Grenfell Gallery, Grenfell
2011 Reopening of The Melissa Barber Galleries, Canowindra
Art Melbourne with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
Exhibition with The Melissa Barber Galleries at Finn’s Store, Canowindra
2010 Rolf Harris and Melissa Barber with Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
Art Sydney with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
Les Derniers Coquelicots and The Spirit of Place with Jayes Gallery, Molong
Exhibited with Art of Orange, Orange
Group Exhibition 2011 with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
Art Melbourne with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
2009 Art Sydney with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
Art Melbourne with Gallery Oscar, Sydney
Glisten Solo with Gallery Oscar
Kinross Wollaroi School Art Fair, Orange
2008 Ted Lewis, Amanda McLean, Melissa Barber and David Bromley with Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
Exhibited with McGee’s Gallery, Mornington
2007 Spring Exhibition with Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
2006 Exhibited with Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2005 The Magic Hill Exhibition Solo at Ravenswood School for Girls, Sydney
Exhibited with Artistry Galleries, Melbourne
Exhibited with Corporate Art, the Gold Coast
2004 Dickerson, Boyd and Barber with Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
Art Sydney with Aarwun Gallery, Canberra
2003 Exhibited at the Leftbank Gallery, Canowindra
Relaunches her own gallery as The Melissa Barber Galleries – featuring her own work
1999 Establishes her own gallery and cafe - Gallery Koolabah Cafe, Canowindra – featuring her own work
1994 Exhibited Ada’s Place, Millthorpe
Exhibits Zonta Club of Orange Art Exhibition