Adelaide, Australia

Barbara Weir was born in 1945 at the (former) Bundy River Station. Her country is Atnwengerrp and her language is Anmatyerre and Alyawarr.

Barbara’s mother Minnie Pwerle (the artist) is Aboriginal and her father is Irish. As a child of mixed heritage she was taken from her family at the age of nine. During her foster years she lost contact with her family but in the late 1960s she returned to Utopia where she was re-united with Emily Kame Kngwarreye who had looked after her as a child.

It was most likely the influence of Emily, herself a well-known Aboriginal artist, that encouraged Barbara's interest. In 1996 Barbara travelled to Switzerland and Paris at the request of a gallery who commissioned some of Barbara's artworks. Private collectors purchased every work and her career began to flourish.

Barbara Weir's main Dreamings (and titles) are Bush Berry, Grass Seed and My Mother's Country.

Barbara’s beautiful artworks contain an explosive mixture of ancient Aboriginal spirituality and modern white culture. She is regarded as an important link between white man's and Aboriginal culture.