Taranaki Tūturu, Ngā Puhi
Barry’s inspiration and passion for Māori art and whakairo (carving) developed in the early 90’s when he returned to Taranaki in his teenage years to study Fine Arts at Taranaki Polytechnic. Barry furthered his studies and graduated from Wellington Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in visual arts in 2006. Barry has taken a journey of self-identity through his exploration in carving and the journey is portrayed in his sculptures. Barry utilizes both traditional and non-traditional materials within his practice and expresses his love and passion for his culture and people through his mahi toi.
Barry is an active member of Toi Tū o Taranaki (Taranaki Māori Arts Networks) devoted to telling traditional Māori stories through their contemporary arts practice. In 2019, he exhibited works in the Puanga Exhibition at Kina Gallery in New Plymouth.
In 2011, Barry was among prolific Māori artists who presented their works at the Māori Art Market in the PATAKA Art + Museum, Porirua. In 2020, Barry was amongst Taranaki carvers who produced two stone sculptures on behalf of his hapū Ngāti Rāhiri, for the Pohokura Production Station to recognise an ongoing partnership between the Ngāti Rāhiri hapū and oil and gas explorers OMV New Zealand. In 2023, Barry’s Interwoven Time stone carving was presented at the Te Kura ā Rohe – Exploration in placement of value Exhibition, presented by Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou in Foxton.