Profile 

“Surrealism can be subtle, I like to toy with the freedom to imagine and bend it to what I want it to be and say”

At the heart of Barr’s artistic expression lies the exploration of humanities relationship with its environment. Through his meticulously crafted oil paintings, he skilfully captures the essence of people and their sense of belonging, or lack of. While his painting technique may be considered classical with its multi-layered approach, his subject matter is not. Each series of work explores a different thematic, from his early magic-surrealist and tiki-inspired motifs to narratives rooted in our history, Barr’s artistry has continuously evolved. In his recent works, he blends realism with a touch of semi-surrealism, immersing the viewer in a beguiling realm of imagination and storytelling.

Liam Barr, born in Scotland in 1966 immigrated to Aotearoa in 1974. Barr’s artistic path took shape after settling in Fremantle, Western Australia during the early 90’s. Initially trained and working as a graphic designer, he closed his design practice in 2001 to solely focus on his fine art practice. In 2004, he returned to Aotearoa, accompanied by his wife and daughter, to further nurture his practice and voice as an artist within a NZ landscape. 2024 awakens a new chapter with a move to Melbourne, Australia.  

Overflow was Barr’s 10th solo show since 2003. He has work in The Stevenson Collection (Picton) and has contributed to numerous national and international group shows. Public exhibitions include; ‘Scape' Whakatāne Art Museum - 2014, 'Mind Games - An Exhibition of Surrealism in Aotearoa' Hastings City Art Gallery - 2009. ’Tears For Tāne's Children' Whangārei Art Museum - 2007. Portrait commissions include ‘World of Wearable Art winning entry’ Dame Suzie Moncrieff 2014. ‘Korean War Armistice Commemoration Portrait’ NZ Defence & Veteran Services - 2014. In 2020 The Urban Art Foundation had a retrospective of Barr's work which was exhibited nationally via digital billboards. In 2021, Barr among other NZ artists through the International Urban Art Exchange in conjunction with the city of Turku, Finland exhibited work in super large scale digital screens mounted to the side of buildings.



SOLO:

2023 - Overflow: Webb's, Wellington, NZ
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.

GROUP:

2023 - Autumn Selection, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2023 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2022 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2018 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2017 - Our People Our Land, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2017 - Identification, The Vivian, Matakana, NZ
2017 - Winter Selection, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Summer Selection, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Imago Mundi Benetton World Art Collection, Treviso, Italy
2016 - Grand Opening, Matthew Namour Gallery, Montreal, Canada
2016 - Winter Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2015 - Xmas Exhibition, PG Gallery 192, Christchurch, NZ
2015 - Winter Exhibition, Jonathan Grant Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 - Égrégore, The Zenith of Pop Surrealism, Yves Laroche Galerie D'art, Montréal, Canada
2014 - Our People Our Land, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2014 - Spring Thing, Chambers 241 Gallery, Chch, NZ
2014 - Easter Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2013 - Auckland Art Fair, Artis Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2012 - Xmas Show, Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 - BNZ Industry Show, via Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 - Arthouse, Ronald MacDonald House Collection initiative, NZAFA, Wellington, NZ
2012 - Women - NZAFA, Wellington, NZ
2010 - Capturing the Colony, Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2010 - 20 N.Z. Artists, Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2009 - Christmas Show, Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2009 - Christmas Show, Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2009 - Here they come, there they go, here we are. Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2009 - Auckland Art Fair, Warwick Henderson Gallery Pavillion, Auckland, NZ
2009 - Autumn Catalogue,Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland,NZ
2009 - Real and Unreal - An Exhibition of NZ Surrealists, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2008 - Summer Catalogue, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2007 - Tears for Tane’s Children, Whangarei Art Museum, Whangarei, NZ
2007 - Affordable Art Show, Wellington, NZ
2006 - Winter Group Show, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2006 - Emerge Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2006 - Affordable Art Show, Wellington, NZ
2005 - Banks Peninsula Art Auction, Lyttelton, NZ
2005 - Allegory Art Galley, Christchurch, NZ
2004 - Le Strange Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2004 - Fishers Fine Arts, Christchurch, NZ
1992 - Lyttelton Council Chambers, Lyttelton, NZ.

EDITIONS:

2022 - Multifarious - Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2019 - Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ
2018 - Artis Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2018 - The Poi Room, Auckland, NZ
2018 - Boyd Dunlop Gallery, Napier, NZ
2015 - Orion Powerhouse Gallery, Akaroa, NZ
2011 - Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2010 - John Leech Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2010 - Salamander Gallery, Christchurch, NZ
2009 - Little River Gallery, Banks Peninsula, NZ
2009 - Gallery De Novo, Dunedin, NZ
2009 - Williams Gallery, Petone, NZ
2008 - Kapa Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2008 - Eyeball Kicks, Wellington, NZ
2007 - Moko Gallery, Hot water Beach, Whitianga, NZ
2007 - Kura Gallery, Taupo, NZ
2007 - Ora Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2007 - Tamarillo Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2007 - Maori Art Auction, Shona McFarlane Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
2006 - Emerge Gallery, Wellington, NZ

PUBLIC:

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

COMMISSIONS:

2019 - Art Historian, Michael R. Dunn
2014 - NZ Defence & Veteran Services
2014 - Dame Suzie Moncrieff - (World of Wearable Arts)

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

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

2021 - Submachine Magazine -2nd Ed. Article by Al Best
2019 - Art New Zealand Magazine - No.163, Article by Michael R. Dunn
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

TUTORING:

2020 - Practical Drawing Technique, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2019 - Practical Drawing Technique, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2019 - 5 Day Workshop - The Magic Realism of Portraiture, CEAC - Auckland
2018 - Drawing Technique, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2017 - 5 Day Workshop - The Magic Realism of Portraiture, CEAC - Auckland
2015 - Drawing Intensive, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington
2014 - Drawing Intensive, Yr2 Design, Toi Whakaari, Wellington

TRAINING:

1992 - 1994 Diploma (dist.) Perth Metropolitan College of Art & Design, Perth, W.A. Major - Illustration, Computer Graphics.