Holmes à Court Gallery presents Elizabeth Blair Barber: A Life Amongst Painters

Experience the life and work of prolific Western Australian artist Elizabeth Blair Barber (1909–2001) at a special exhibition at Holmes à Court Gallery in West Perth from Saturday, June 22 to Saturday, August 10.

Elizabeth Blair Barber: A Life Amongst Painters celebrates this talented artist who, though overlooked at the time, courageously defied societal norms in order to increase the recognition and appreciation of female artists.

For nearly a century, Barber lived a dual life: publicly, she was Betty Bunning, the socialite wife of prominent WA businessman Charles Bunning of the Bunning empire. In the art world, however, she was Elizabeth Blair Barber—a gifted and prolific painter who chronicled WA history, persuaded celebrated figures to sit for portraits, and nurtured young artists.

Elizabeth Blair Barber: A Life Amongst Painters pays homage to her daring virtuosity, drawing from Barber’s collection of works and placing them in both aesthetic and historical context.

Elizabeth Blair Barber: A Life Amongst Painters is showing at Holmes à Court Gallery from Saturday, June 22 to Saturday, August 10, 2024. For more information, head to holmesacourtgallery.com.au