About Barney Ellaga
Barney was a Senior law man within his Alawa Community, Minyerri.  His style is reminiscent of the ancient rock art painted in caves through out his peoples land.  Each line represents a different aspect of his country. His main themes are landscapes of his country on either his paternal or maternal sides.  Very often his work is preceded by a dream, after which he will paint a series of works which piece together the story of the dream which Barney says comes from ‘the old people’.
 
In a recent catalogue description (Alcaston Gallery), Ellaga's paintings are described as "pure abstract works created with brilliant saturated colours, created with a special brush technique, and confident compositions. He combines imbalance with balance, beautiful harmony with stark contrasts to create works of great impact and power."
 
His work is sought after internationally and nationally. He has held several successful solo exhibitions and his work is represented in a number of major Australian public and private galleries or collections. 
 
Barney’s work has been widely exhibited since 1989, with many paintings going into prominent museums and public collections, including the acquisition of nine works by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
 
Selected Exhibitions
1989
• Utopia & Ngukurr, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
1991
• Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
1992
• Tandanya Aboriginal River Calendar, South Australia
• Gulf Country, Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
• Ngundungunya Artists, Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
1993
• Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
1994
• Gallerie Australis, Adelaide
• Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
• Australian Heritage Commission Art Award and Exhibition, Canberra
1995
• 12th National Aboriginal Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
• Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
1996
• All About Art, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
1997
• Ngundungunya, Art for Everyone, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• Bent Strit – Art of South East Arnhem Land, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne
1998
• Recent Acquisitions, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
1999
• Alawa Country, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
2001
• Sprituality and Australian Aboriginal Art, Department of Culture, Madrid, Spain
2002
• Mia Mia Gallery, Melbourne
• The Contemporaries, Contemporary Artspace, Brisbane
2003
• Bush Gardens of Roper River, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
2004
• “Two Senior Men”, Waterhole Aboriginal Art, Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney
2005
• Waterhole Aboriginal Art, Danks Street, Sydney
 
Selected Collections
• Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth
• Laverty Collection, Sydney
• Macquarie Bank Collection, Sydney
• National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Inc., SA
• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• Northern Land Council Native Title Collection, Darwin
• R.H. & A. Myer Collection, Melbourne