Area: Bundy River Station region of Utopia

Language Group: Anmatyerre and Alyawarr

Country: Atnwengerrrp

Age: Born 1945 – 2023

Barbara’s mother was Minnie Pwerle, another renown Aboriginal artist, and her father was Irish. She was ‘hidden’ from the age of two at Utopia where she was “grown up” by her aunty Emily Kngwarreye. At the age of 9 years, whilst collecting water, Barbara was taken by Native Welfare and her family believed she had been killed. She was fostered out to various families, first in Alice Springs, then in Victoria, and Darwin. During these years she lost contact with her family but never forgot and was determined to return and re-claim her heritage.

In the late 1960’s she returned to Utopia with her 6 children. She re-learnt the languages and her culture and re-established contact with all her family including the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye and her Grandfather Quartpot Akemarr. Being exposed to many artists at Utopia, in particular Emily, Barbara, in the early 1990’s, developed a profound interest in painting.

Barbara’s Dreamings include My Mother’s Country, Grass Seeds, Bush Yam and Bush Plum.