Gareth Barlow, an accomplished painter and carver from the Hutt Valley, Wellington, is a sixth-generation New Zealander whose work deeply engages with Māori traditions and his own cultural heritage. His art reflects a profound connection to both indigenous culture and the natural landscape of Aotearoa. Barlow works primarily with a blend of acrylics and charcoals to evoke an ephemeral and transcended quality to the structure of his large-scale portraits and symbolic compositions featuring native New Zealand flora and fauna, as well as portraiture & symbology from his New Zealand and Celtic roots.

The series Sharing Memories, (charcoal on paper) shows Barlow’s skill in exquisite detail, where he portrays native and endemic birds in a traditional portrait style. Deeply embedded in Māori folklore, the birds represent both Māori and Pākehā perspectives, embodying the enduring connection between people and their environment. Through this series, Barlow highlights the birds as icons of resilience and unity, reflecting on their role as guardians of the land and emblems of cultural heritage.

Barlow’s series of paintings, uses acrylic to portray cultural portraiture, and more recently, birdlife. He meticulously captures fine details with precise brushwork, while also employing bold, earthy expressive colour choices to convey emotional depth. His portraits often exhibit a dynamic interplay between realism and symbolism, creating a striking balance of clarity and artistic freedom. The birds are depicted with a proud, almost regal presence.

The artworks feature delicate dot patterns that evoke the natural landscapes of New Zealand—mountains, seas, and rivers—infusing each piece with a sense of movement and vitality. Barlow’s transition to full-time art six years ago follows a successful 30-year career in commercial art and design. He has since earned recognition as a finalist in prestigious awards, including the Wallace Art Awards (2020) and the Adam Portraiture Awards (2018, 2020). Notably, he received a Highly Commended Award and the People’s Choice Award at the Parkin Drawing Prize in 2021.

His creative process is a blend of disciplined routine and spontaneous exploration. Barlow works within a structured schedule but allows ideas to evolve organically. Guided by Māori beliefs that artists serve as conduits for divine creation, he invites ancestral spirits into his creative practice, adding a spiritual dimension to his work.