Joanne Barrett
Ngāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe
The works of contemporary landscape artist Joanne Barrett, reflect her belief that, ‘The land is precious. It is greater than me, yet I am part of it and, it is part of me’.
For most of her life Joanne lived and worked in Auckland. She enjoyed a long and successful career in graphic design, advertising, brand development and publishing. In 2015, Joanne left Auckland to live in Northland where she now writes and paints full-time from her home studio in Hokianga. Whilst graphic design has, in part, shaped Joanne’s art practice, she considers herself primarily to be a self-taught artist. Her inspiration is indisputably drawn from her relationship with te whenua o Aotearoa.
She uses her own technique manipulating layers of paint and mixed media as a base forming textured lines signifying whakapapa and generations of growth. Subsequent layers are added to form conceptualised landscapes – these layers create a deeper relationship both above and beneath the surface. From her home the view over the Hokianga harbour has inspired her more recent works. These works capture
how the elements of light, rain, cloud, and mist play upon the landscape to momentarily alter colours, reshape landforms and shift moods.
Joanne was the co-winner of the Far North Art Awards 2016 with her work
‘Of ancient Existence’ – a contemporary work depicting pounamu resting in its turangawaewae.
The works of contemporary landscape artist Joanne Barrett, reflect her belief that, ‘The land is precious. It is greater than me, yet I am part of it and, it is part of me’.
For most of her life Joanne lived and worked in Auckland. She enjoyed a long and successful career in graphic design, advertising, brand development and publishing. In 2015, Joanne left Auckland to live in Northland where she now writes and paints full-time from her home studio in Hokianga. Whilst graphic design has, in part, shaped Joanne’s art practice, she considers herself primarily to be a self-taught artist. Her inspiration is indisputably drawn from her relationship with te whenua o Aotearoa.
She uses her own technique manipulating layers of paint and mixed media as a base forming textured lines signifying whakapapa and generations of growth. Subsequent layers are added to form conceptualised landscapes – these layers create a deeper relationship both above and beneath the surface. From her home the view over the Hokianga harbour has inspired her more recent works. These works capture
how the elements of light, rain, cloud, and mist play upon the landscape to momentarily alter colours, reshape landforms and shift moods.
Joanne was the co-winner of the Far North Art Awards 2016 with her work
‘Of ancient Existence’ – a contemporary work depicting pounamu resting in its turangawaewae.
