Her work is hotly sought after internationally and, in Australia, she is probably best known for the rare achievement of having won the Archibald prize twice – no mean feat in a race where women have only won the award 12 times in close to 100 years.

Her paintings are instantly recognizable. Figures with drawn hands and faces look out of the picture with mesmerising eyes, existing in an imaginary world. That world is filled with colour and exquisite detail.

Barton has exhibited in over 20 solo shows including a 4-month major survey of her work at the National Gallery of Victoria last year and her work is held in many public institutions and private collections.

However,  painting forms only part of her life’s work and, although we also talked about her film-making, we didn’t touch on her photo montages, sculptures and installations and her current New York show ‘sing blood-wings sing’  which includes a 10m long work in 5 panels of the same name.

We met in one of her Sydney studios where I was lucky enough to see 10 or so works in mid-completion for her upcoming October show at Roslyn Oxley 9 in Sydney.

She is warm and honest and openly speaks about dark times. However, as with her work, she seems to find a balance between the light and dark and laughter is always closeby.

To hear our conversation press ‘play’ beneath the above feature photo.

‘Self-portrait with studio wife’, 2018, acrylic on linen, 203 x 183cm (finalist Arhibald Prize 2018)

‘the preservation of the shimmer self’, 2018- 2019, 240 x 200cm

‘come of things’, 2010, synthetic polymer paint, gouache, watercolour and pen on polyester canvas , 240 x 360cm (permanent collection, Art Gallery of NSW)

‘you are what is most beautiful about me, a self portrait with Kell and Arella’ 2008, synthetic polymer paint, watercolour, gouache and pen on polyester canvas, 280 x 180cm (winner Archibald Prize 2008)

‘hugo’, 2013, watercolour, gouache and acrylic on canvas, 200 x 180cm (winner Archibald Prize 2013)

‘Mother (a portrait of Cate)’, 2011, watercolour, gouache, acrylic and pen on polyester canvas, 240 x 180cm (finalist Archibald Prize 2011)

‘wilder grew her song’ 2011-2012 acrylic gouache watercolour and ink on polyester canvas

‘Weird Seed’ 2017, acrylic on french linen, 180 x 160cm