Barney Ellaga
1939
Region: Southern Arnhem Land
Community: Hodgson Downs
Language: Alawa
Barney Ellaga is a senior custodian and law-man of the Alawa community, located on the upper reaches of the Cox and Arnold rivers, south of the Roper River and west of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The area, known as Minyerri in Southern Arnhem Land, is rich with cultural heritage.
PROFILE
Barney Ellaga
1939
Region: Southern Arnhem Land
Community: Hodgson Downs
Language: Alawa
Barney Ellaga is a senior custodian and law-man of the Alawa community, located on the upper reaches of the Cox and Arnold rivers, south of the Roper River and west of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The area, known as Minyerri in Southern Arnhem Land, is rich with cultural heritage.
Barney's artworks have a profound connection with the Dreamings associated with his region. As the Jungai (guardian) of several sacred sites, he has full authority over access by non-countrymen, ensuring the preservation of the traditions and heritage of these locations.
His artistic style is unique and recognisable, characterised by vibrant colour combinations and a distinctive brushstroke technique. The artists from his area, particularly the Ngukurr community on the Roper River, have gained international acclaim. This recognition has been led by figures such as the late Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, as well as renowned painters Gertie Huddleston and her sister Angelina George. Their artworks, featuring fabulous modern colours and abstract representations of their landscapes, are highly prized and collectable.
A central theme in many of Barney’s creations is the traditional men's body paint designs, used during ceremonial occasions, alongside the King Brown (snake) Dreaming. This narrative, which tells the story of earth creation, is vital to Barney's cultural heritage and connection to his land.
ARTIST CV
Individual Exhibitions:
2010: "New Paintings from Alawa Country," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2009: "Bush Honey - New Paintings," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2004: "All Alawa Country," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2002: "Painting Mambali Country," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2000: "All Alawa," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1999: "Alawa Country," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
Group Exhibitions:
2020: "Spirit Journeys: The Ngukurr School of Art – An Archival Exhibition," featuring Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Willie Gudubi, Djambu Barra Barra, Wilfred Ngalandarra, and Barney Ellaga, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2020:
2011: "Ngukurr - The Place of Stones," featuring Gertie Huddleston, Angelina George, and Barney Ellaga, Muk Muk Fine Art, Alice Springs, NT.
2008: "Paintings from Remote Communities: Indigenous Australian Art from the Laverty Collection," Newcastle Regional Gallery, Newcastle, NSW.
2005: "Recent Work by Barney and Tibby Ellaga," Raft Artspace, Darwin.
2004: "All About Art," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "Colour Power - Aboriginal Art Post 1984," The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Melbourne.
2003: "Art Miami," January, represented by Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "Bush Gardens of Roper River," Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, Western Australia.
2002: "Spirituality and Australian Aboriginal Art," touring exhibition, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "All About Art," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "Melbourne Art Fair," represented by Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "Water Country," Kluge-Ruhe Collection, October 11, 2002 – January 18, 2003, University of Virginia, USA; "Inaugural Exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square," October 2002.
2001: "Spirituality and Australian Aboriginal Art," touring exhibition, Department of Culture, Regional Government of Madrid, Spain; "A Private View: 1971 – 2001, Thirty Years of Contemporary Aboriginal Art," McClelland Gallery, Melbourne, May 10 – June 23; "Space," Artists for Kids Culture Trust fundraiser exhibition & auction, Mira Fine Art Gallery, Melbourne; "All About Art," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2000: "Artfair 2000," represented by Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; "All About Art," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1999: "All About Art," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1998: "Recent Acquisitions," National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
1997: "Ngundungunya: Art for Everyone," National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; "Beat Strit – Art of South East Arnhem Land," Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1996/97: "Café Alcaston," in conjunction with Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1996: "All About Art," Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne.
1995: Hogarth Galleries, Sydney in conjunction with Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne; "The Twelfth National Aboriginal Art Award," Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
1994: Gallerie Australis, Adelaide in conjunction with Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne; "Australian Heritage Commission Art Award & Exhibition," Canberra.
1993: Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne.
1992: "Gulf Country," Christine Abrahams Gallery, in conjunction with Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne; "Ngundungunya Artists," Hogarth Gallery, Sydney in conjunction with Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne.
1991: Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne; "Tandanya Aboriginal River Calendar," SA.
1989: "Utopia & Ngukurr," Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne.
Awards:
Bibliography:
"Australian Heritage Commission, Second National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Art Award and Exhibition Catalogue," Canberra, 1994.
"Cries from the back of the truck echo down the years," Robin Usher, Arts Correspondent, The Age, April 5, 2000.
"NGV Foundation Annual Report 2000," Image reproduction and acquisition details, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 2000.
"Spirituality and Australian Aboriginal Art," exhibition catalogue, Al
MARKET ANALYSIS
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