Barbara Weir

Barbara Weir was born circa 1945 on the Bundy River Station in the region of Utopia, Barbara Weir’s mother is Minnie Pwerle (passed away 2006), a very well known artist, and her father was an Irishman. Barbara belongs to the Anmatyerre / Alyawarre language group. Barbara was taken from her family and fostered out, but, in the 1960’s, Barbara returned to Utopia and stayed with her aunt, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

Barbara commenced painting with acrylics on canvas in 1989 and developed a sophisticated and contemporary painting style. (She also paints with ochres.) In 1994, Barbara Weir and other Aboriginal women travelled to Indonesia to learn batik techniques; then, in 1996, she travelled to Europe with her exhibitions of paintings.