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Artist Exhibitions:
Art Competitions
2008 2nd Prize 2008 Palm
Art Award, Leipzig, Germany
2008 Selected Artist 2008
Chelsea International Fine Art
Competition
2008 Finalist Redland Art
Awards, Cleveland, Qld
2008 Finalist Waltzing
Matilda Art Competition,
Winton Qld
2008 Finalist Stanthorpe
Art Prize, Stanthorpe Qld
Australia
2007 Finalist Gold Coast
Art Prize Qld ...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
2008 - 2009 Martin Galleries,
Nundah, Brisbane, Australia
2006 - 2009 Trevisan
Internationale Arte, Ferrara,
Italy
2006 - 2009 Art Gallery
Collections Surfers Paradise &
Mooloolaba Qld
2008 - 2009 Gallery 307
Northbridge Sydney Australia
2008 Ronald Coles
Investment Gallery, Kenthurst,
Sydney
2007 - 2008 Iesha Stewart
Gallery, Townsville Qld
2007 - 2008 Louis Vuitton,
Hong Kong
...
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Collections:
Paintings are held in private
collections in Australia,
Austria, Canada, China,
England, France, Italy,
Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New
Zealand, Scotland, and the USA
2008 Toowoomba Regional
Gallery, Toowoomba, Qld
2007 Highflo Company New
Zealand
2004 Wind River Pastoral
Company Qld Australia...
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Commissions:
Commissions:
2007 Highflo Company, Lower
Hutt, New Zealand
2004 Wind River Pastoral
Company Qld Australia
...
Further Information
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Artist Statement for John Weeronga Bartoo
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ARTIST STATEMENT
I was born in Brisbane, a long way from the dusty plains of my ancestors home in South Western Queensland around Dirranbandi and Cunnamulla. I am a self taught artist.
Both my parents died when I was very young and I was raised by my grandmother who gave me a European education at Villanova College, in Brisbane. I had no contact with Aboriginal culture and this left me very confused.
In 1964 I married my wife Kay, we have 3 daughters & 6 grandchildren. During my working life I worked for Telstra as a Communications Officer, then 15 years ago left Brisbane for the peace & quiet of the country in the mountains near Warwick in Queensland. It was while working for a herbal company in Warwick that I fell ill and it was during my recovery in late 2002 that I felt an urge to paint.
I started painting in February 2003 and entered and won my first art competition in July that year – The Indigenous Art Section of the Brisbane RNA. After entering the Inverell Art Competition that same year I was offered my first Solo Exhibition at the Inverell Art Gallery in July 2004, from this exhibition I was asked to be part of a Group Exhibition in Nice, Italy.
Over the past 5 years my art has taken me to many parts of the world and given me the opportunity to meet & make friends with people of so many different cultures. In 2005, I was the only Aboriginal Australian chosen to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games baton change over exhibition, “The Road To Melbourne” at the Blue Dot Gallery, in Toronto Canada, 2006 I was the first Aboriginal Australian to exhibit at Agora Gallery, in New York City, 2007 I was only the second Australian & first Aboriginal Australian to make the final of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, in Hong Kong & 2008 I am the only Australian in the final of The Palm Art Award in Leipzig, Germany.
In 2006, I was awarded “Ercole d’Este” in Ferrara Italy, at this exhibition I joined with 20 + other artists to form “The Ferrara Collective” & this year under this banner will exhibit in at least 2 exhibitions, firstly at the Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey in March , then at Art Domain Gallery, Leipzig, Germany in August.
My art is a search for myself and I believe that the spirits of my ancestors are guiding me. As for my future in art I will be guided by my heart and my ancestors.
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contact artist
