"I paint the landscape, my home Country of Nturiya (Ti Tree). A long time ago, long before us, my ancestors lived on this Country. They knew all about how to live on Country; where they could find water holes, food, and places to shelter with their family. They passed this knowledge down, daughters to daughters, sons to sons, through the generations to us. I feel happy to paint my Country, and proud to tell the stories of my ancestors. Through my painting I'm teaching my daughters and grandchildren too. I'm doing this for my family - it's all about my family."

Barbara Mbitjana Moore depicts her beloved Anmatyerre Country, offering aerial perspectvies of the landscape meticulously recalled from memory. Rendered in sweeping arcs of colour Moore portrays the undulating landscapes, rock formations, and water holes in the environment, acknowledging a rich conneciton to Country which transcends geographic understanding, and which is deeply rooted in belonging, being, and ancestral significance.

About the artist:

Barbara grew up in Ti Tree in the Northern Territory, and moved to Amata to live with her husband. Barbara began to paint at Tjala Arts (formerly Minymaku Arts) in 2003, and is committed to her painting practice, working at Tjala Arts on a daily basis.

Barbara's paintings are highly regarded in the indigenous arts sector, but are also gaining significant success in the in the non indigenous art world as outstanding contemporary artworks in their own right. Her bold and confident command of large scale canvases, saw her receive the prestigious General Painting Award at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (Telstra Prize) in 2012. She has been a multiple finalist at the National Indigenous Art Awards at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

In November 2019 Barbara had her first solo show and residency at the Kluge Ruhe Collection of Aboriginal Art at the University of Virginia. Barbara's work is held in numerous prestigious collections in Australia and abroad.