Share The Air
23 July—6 August
Working primarily in acrylic and charcoal, Gareth Barlow creates large-scale paintings and portraits distinguished by their atmospheric quality and symbolic imagery. Native birds, portraiture, and narratives of connection are recurring elements throughout his practice, reflecting an ongoing interest in identity, belonging, ancestry, and the relationships between people, place, and the natural world. His works often explore states of attentiveness and exchange, inviting reflection on how presence, memory, and story shape human experience.
Alongside his painting practice, Barlow has spent many years engaging with the histories, stories, and artistic traditions of Aotearoa. His work reflects a sustained interest in narrative systems and ways of understanding the world, including Māori pūrākau and his own Celtic heritage, approached as distinct but intersecting cultural frameworks. Of his practice, he comments, “I sometimes feel that on anyone’s art journey, if you don’t have more questions than answers, you’re not on the right path.” This ongoing inquiry informs a practice grounded in observation, learning, and reflection.
“At its heart, Share The Air is about connection: to each other, to the natural world, and to the stories that span generations. These works invite us to see birds and people not as separate subjects, but as companions and teachers who share this land, this sky, and the fragile balance that sustains us all. They call us to notice, to listen, and to take part in the ongoing dialogue of life that surrounds us.”
Featured artwork: Warm Moonlight Over My Horizon
