Strange & Memorable The Paintings of Liam Barr

Liam Barr is a painter who has established a persona that does not fit easily into one category of contemporary painting. He merges a number of styles into his works but at all times remains figurative and realist in type. Born in Scotland, he came to New Zealand aged eight and is largely self-taught apart from some study in graphic design in Western Australia in his mid-20s. He has been exhibiting for over 15 years and is based in Wellington. His latest Auckland show at Artis Gallery had the title Tethered and, as this implies, the works have references to the horse in their imagery.

In his catalogue notes for the show Barr writes: ’I have always been drawn to the horse, perhaps because I was born in the year of the horse or perhaps it is their sheer magnificence.’ All the new paintings have the horse as a component part of the subject matter. These animals are not generic but individualised, have them attached to the face like appendages or growths.