Q: What were some of the foundation ideas for this exhibition project?

A: When Barbara died in late 2022, she left a significant number of artworks in her personal collection, spanning her entire career. On behalf of the family, I am keen to organise exhibitions so the material can continue to be seen and enjoyed. Barbara really enjoyed showing people her work.

Q: How did the artwork selection take place?

A: We have selected work from very early in her life right through to prints she created when she was in her nineties. Some examples have never previously been exhibited, while others are from her most popular editions. Overall, this exhibition will show all the phases and styles of her printmaking.

Q: How does the exhibition manifest – what do visitors experience?

A: On account of the arrangement of the works in chronological order, the visitor should be able to see how her techniques and content changed over many years.

Q: What are some of the key works and what subject matter do they deal with?

A: The earliest works, from when Barbara was a teenager, are pen and watercolour drawings which showed her great talent for drawing from life, which she continued to use later on as a basis for her printmaking. Later Barbara used acrylic paint and then lithography to explore the juxtaposition of colours and shapes. However, for most of her life Barbara created images from everyday life around her. Examples include iconic scenes around Sydney harbour, people playing card games, and various botanical subjects. All the lithographs, etching, and collagraphs began as a quick sketch drawing from what she could see in front of her.