Previous Exhibition

Kate Barry —
Source

Feb 13 – Feb 29, 2020

About the Artist      

Kate Barry is a Christchurch-born, Brisbane-based painter who has exhibited vastly across Australia and New Zealand. With a multitude of recognitions and awards in her repertoire and many commissions and exhibitions set for 2020, Kate’s first solo exhibition of the year is at Side Gallery in Red Hill, titled, SOURCE. The exhibition will showcase entirely new work, with large scale pieces which we are used to seeing in a Barry exhibition, but with an apt addition of 32 small works on board. These are primarily focussing on process, while exploring the materiality of paint, and restricting the type of gestural strokes available to a 20 x 20cm board. 

While the two aspects of the exhibition focus on scale, that is, large works and small works, the small works require a different, more introspective approach. The small works collection — while still gestural — as a whole, appears more intimate and reveals the artist’s hand in a more evident manner. The two aspects of the exhibition merit a kind of quiet reflection while we take in the subtleties and expressive qualities of mystery, sensuousness, and nostalgia.

In true Kate Barry style, the whole body of work emphasises free, spontaneous, and emotional expression with the mark-making techniques she uses and a killer colour palette that nods to her background in design.

The works in SOURCE are a reference to the source of inspiration, or the source of Kate’s emotional expression, and emphasises the unstudied and intuitive application of paint. Dynamic compositional drama, teamed with Kate’s ability to tie lyricism and beauty to gestural mark-making, consistently proves the artist’s ability to reflect, articulate, and capture an expression.

About the Artist

Kate Barry

Kate Barry, originally from Christchurch, is a creative force equipped with a degree in illustration, printing-making, and graphic design. Her journey led her through a prolific career in book publishing, primarily focusing on design and illustration, before reigniting her full-time devotion to painting.

With a visceral touch, Kate’s art dismantles the confines of our digital lives, responding intuitively to nature and internal musings. This engagement evokes nostalgia and a profound connection to the energy that envelops us. Through her vibrant canvas, she invites passersby to become captivated by bold brushwork and vivid hues.

Kate’s journey has been acknowledged with numerous finalist selections in esteemed awards, including the Clayton Utz Prize, The Lethbridge 20,000, Lethbridge Landscape Prize, The Milburn Landscape Prize, The Hawkesbury Art Prize, and Brisbane Contemporary Art Prize.

Her artistic footprint spans the globe, with solo and group exhibitions spanning Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, Auckland, and Christchurch. Notably, her pieces find a cherished place in The Modern Furniture Stores’ collections across various cities. Furthermore, her work found prominence on the international stage through ABC television’s crime drama “Harrow.”

As Kate’s practice surges ahead, marked by a multitude of accomplishments—ranging from commissions to online and boutique sales, television features, and national prize finalist positions—she seamlessly integrates this progression into her exploration of new conceptual dimensions, challenging the boundaries of her successful painting career.

About the Curator

Laura Brinin

Laura Brinin is a curator of contemporary art, currently facilitating the vibrant program at Side Gallery in the heart of Red Hill, Brisbane. With an unwavering passion for nurturing connections with emerging and established creatives, Laura is dedicated to fostering artistic growth through avenues such as social media, branding, and identity development.

Laura has exhibited her own work both in Australia and overseas, as well as working as an independent freelance curator across Brisbane for over ten years. In her downtime, you can find her reading, travelling, or stalking dogs.