Current Artist's Note

Barney Ellaga was born about 1941 and is a senior law man within his Alawa community. As an artist, Barney conveys what is to him traditional in a most genuine way, through personal iconography and a feeling for colour drawn from instinct, inherited knowledge and love for country and culture.  In response to the land of his birth, Barney uses extraordinary colour complements to contour Alawa terrains. His fresh and dynamic approach gives impact and power to these abstract pieces and, as a consequence, his work is in high demand.
Since the introduction of acrylic paints and canvas, Aboriginal art has transgressed traditional symbols representing ceremonial ritual and story to become an international phenomenon, exploring the realms of contemporary abstraction. Barney has mastered this introduced medium.

Mirrigambirri 2003
Barney Ellaga
Acrylic on Galacia linen
880mm x 1280mm

Melirr Yartnin 2004
Barney Ellaga
Acrylic on Belgian linen
1290mm 860m

Ngargumandunya 2003
Barney Ellaga
Acrylic on Galacia linen
1280mm x 1700mm