Isiaha Barlow

Born 1977

Profile

Isiaha Te Rangatira Barlow (born 1977, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Uenuku) holds a Master of Māori Visual Arts degree from Massey University. He is known for his immaculate paintings in egg tempera and gold and silver leaf, which are reminiscent of Byzantine icons and early Renaissance altarpieces.

Barlow casts important Māori artists as saints, playing with notions the iconic and the canonical. He draws on motifs and styles associated with his subjects in order to acknowledge their individual achievements. Moreover, he emphasises their position as artistic tūpuna, worthy of reverence. His making processes are painstaking, requiring great concentration. Finished works become taonga, entities possessing mauri (life force) and wairua (spirit).

Barlow has featured in important group exhibitions, including Nouméa-Pacifique (2000), the Nouméa Biennale of Contemporary Art, Pūrangiaho: Seeing Clearly (2001) at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Te Huringa/Turning Points (2006–10) organised by the Fletcher Trust and the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rēhua, and Every Artist (2021) at City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi. His works are held by the Sarjeant Gallery and in private collections throughout Aotearoa.

Selected solo exhibitions

2006 — The 12 Mothers, Maria Place, Whanganui

2003 — Exalted, Isiaha Barlow Gallery, Whanganui

2002 — The Mothers and Fathers, Maria Place, Whanganui

Selected group exhibitions

2022 — Huritau, Whanganui Arts Centre

2021 — Every Artist, City Gallery Wellington

2006 - 2010 — Te Huringa/Turning Points, Whangarei Art Museum, WhangareiWaikato Museum, HamiltonTauranga Art Gallery, TaurangaSarjeant Art Gallery, WhanganuiCity Gallery Wellington, WellingtonChristchurch Art Gallery, Christchurch

2004 — He Rereke, Tinakori Gallery, Wellington

2002 — Kei Whea - Where it’s at, Sarjeant Art Gallery, Whanganui

2001 — Sacred and the Profane, Auckland

2001 — Purangiaho Seeing Clearly, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland

2001 — Matatau - Toioho ki Apiti, Manawatu Museum and Science Centre, Palmerston North

2000 — Noumea Contemporary Art Biennale, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, New Caledonia

1999 — Year 4, Manawatu Museum and Science Centre, Palmerston North

1998 — Tauira Toru - Toioho ki Apiti, Manawatu Museum and Science Centre, Palmerston North

1996 — Nga Puna Waihanga, Sarjeant Art Gallery, Whanganui

Selected publications

Books and catalogues

He Rere Kee-Taking Flight, 2004, Tinakori Gallery Wellington.

Brown, Deidre, 2002, ‘Affirming a Legacy Purangi Aho: Seeing Clearly’, Art New Zealand Spring 2002, 102, p.46.

Mane-Wheoki, Johnathan, 2001, ‘He Kahui Whetu Hou Contemporary Maori Artists: A New Constellation’ Art New Zealand Spring 2001, 100, p.101.

Mason, Ngahiraka, 2000, ‘New Horizon’s: Future Directions, Biennales d’art contemporain’, 2000, Noumea, New Caledonia: A.D.C.K.

Articles and journals

Lewis-Harrison, Jackie, 2001, ‘Our identity lies ahead: Forth Noumea Biennale’, Art Asia Pacific 31:23-25.

Paama-Pengelly, Julie, 2001 ‘Bachelor of Maori Arts used to be the new kid on the art block’, Tu Mai 2001 20:16-17.

The New Zealand Herald, 17/9/2001 

Magazines

Art News New Zealand Winter 2003 

Art New Zealand Spring 2001, 100, p.101.

Art New Zealand Spring 2002, 102, p.46.

Tu Mai 2001 20:16-17