Mike Barr

Biography

Mike Barr Artist Extracting positive emotions from viewers is the main focus of Mike’s work. He has explored two main subjects that in themselves are departures from the normal humdrum of life; and that is the beach and rainy-day cityscapes. Even though rain in the city may be seem negative on paper, yet it is a real-life drama that evokes both excitement and comfort when seen in a painting. In the last few years Mike has concentrated on developing a style that does not tell the whole story. He draws-in viewers and invites them to be a part of the scene. He coaxes involvement. He extracts feelings of being there, and at last lets viewers revel in the warmth and dryness of where they stand! Media The Art of Being Melbourne – Maree Coote - 2012 A history of Melbourne as seen through its artists. My six-page spread of rainy Melbourne streets stands alongside other Australian greats such as Streeton, Roberts, Smart, Beckett, Blackman, Brack, Tucker, Amor and many others. www.melbournestyle.com.au/TheARTofBEINGMELBOURNEbook.html Medical Journal of Australia. Article on benefits of art in waiting rooms https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/189.../bar11144_fm.pdf Surf Collection (two pages) by French surfing guru, Gerard Decoster - France http://artofbarr.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/surf-collection.html Regular feature writer in the Australian Artist magazine Articles in the The Artist (UK magazine) 10-page article in the Acrylic Artist (US) fall 2015 Segment on Discover – Channel 7 July 2008 Prizes Over 50 awards in Australia and overseas in the last 10 years including: 15 Best in Shows, 9 People’s Choices and 11 Best in Category awards. Galleries Roux & Cyr International Fine Art Gallery, Portland, Maine US – Solo 2015 and group exhibitions David Sumner Gallery, Adelaide 2012 Art Melbourne 2009 – Solo Greenhill Galleries Adelaide – Solo 2008 and group exhibitions Scarlattis Gallery, Clare – Solo 2007