Joanne Barrett

Joanne Barrett (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) is of Maori, Danish, Scottish, English, and Native American Sioux, descent. After a successful career in graphic design, advertising, brand development and publishing, Joanne left Auckland to live in Northland where she now paints full-time from her studio in Hokianga. Whilst graphic design has, in part, shaped Joanne’s art practice, she considers herself primarily self-taught. Her inspiration is indisputably drawn from her relationship with te whenua o Aotearoa. She uses her own technique using layers of paint and mixed media as a base to form textured lines signifying whakapapa and generations of growth. Subsequent layers are added to form conceptualised landscapes – these layers create a deeper relationship both above and beneath the surface.