JOHN WEERONGA BARTOO BIOGRAPHY

AWARD WINNING INTERNATIONAL ARTIST

A descendant of the Kooma Tribe from South Western Queensland, John Weeronga Bartoo was born in Australia's third largest city, Brisbane. His paintings at first sight seem conservative an strictly traditional in both style and content. Much like the desert artists of the first generation, he paints using a stick dotting away, creating a mosaic like composition which is symbolic to the land and culture of his poeple. Yet on closer inspection we are enlightened by his personal and singular language which shines through. Often we see a combination of traditional symbols and modern figurative representations combined to create his unique effect. “...[John] draws an intricate combination of emotions, suggestions, thoughts, memories, stories...”¹

Although his artistic career is still in its early stages, after starting to paint at the age of 50, his work has right from the beginning won the acclaim of art critics and judges internationally and his work has been described as Intricate, richly detailed and spiritually inspired, John Weeronga Bartoo's paintings tell the stories of the artist's life and that of his family in metaphoric patterns, suggesting journeys both physical and emotional.²

Who would have thought I'd win so many prizes using a toothpick?³

1 TREVISAN, PAOLA, Magic – The magic paths of art; Padova, 2006 pp. 102

2ART-MINE Press Release New York – For the full quote and further information on the artist you can visit his website: www.johnweerongabartoo.com

3In a conversation with Petrit Abazi and Gloria Filippi just after winning the Ercole d'Este prize Estense Palace, Ferrara, Italy, November 2006.

International Group Exhibitions:

2007 May "Le Stande della Memoria" Svevo Castle, Trani Italy
2006 Nov. "Works From The Stable" RM Galleries, Hamilton, Brisbane
2006 Nov. "Magic. The Magic Paths of Art" Estense Palace,Ferrara,Italy
2006 May "Out From Downunder & Beyond" Agora Gallery, Soho, New York City, New York, USA
2005 Sept. "Road To Melbourne" Blue Dot Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2004 Oct. College of Hospitality, Nice, France

International Awards:

2007 Finalist Sovereign Art Asia Competition, Hong Kong
2007 Finalist Real Time London UK
2007 Finalist Artoteque London UK
2007 Finalist Art-Interview Berlin, Germany
2007 Finalist Palm Art Award, Leipzig, Germany
2006 Nov. "Ercole d'Este" "Magic. The Magic Paths of Art" Estense Palace, Ferrara, Italy

PAINTINGS CURRENTLY IN STOCK

Petrit and Gloria (left & right) from Aboriginal-Works with John Weeronga Bartoo and wife Kaye at Estense Palace, Ferrara, Italy.