Uploaded July 2012 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Artist's Statement
Barbara van der Linden was born in Holland in 1949; she migrated to Melbourne, Australia, with her family in 1952. In 1965 she moved to Canberra to study fine art at the first Canberra School of Art, which was situated at the Canberra Bus Depot in Kingston. She received a scholarship to study Graphic Design at East Sydney Tech. In 1970 she was awarded a Degree of Graphic Design. In 1974 she was invited to teach Design and Drawing at the Canberra School of Art, she also taught Art in Canberra and NSW. Barbara was a graphic Designer for 20 years in the Commonwealth Public Service. In 2004 she became a full time artist and has her studio at M16 Artspace.
As a migrant with no extended family, Barbara found that not fitting in had the advantage of enabling her to explore not only her environment but her inner imagination. Her work is often experimental, very strong in colour and variety of subject and medium. She has a close connection to the human form.
Barbara founded the Marsden Arts Group in 2003 which was awarded the 2009 Chief Ministers Award for the Arts . She is also a coordinator of the M16 Artspace Painting Group 'Women@work'. Barbara is a full time artist and mentor for Natalie Hallett an intellectually challenged artist. Barbara also designs and teaches 'Unlocking Creativity' workshops.
FACES OF CANBERRA Barbara is currently working on a project for the Canberra Centenary Celebrations, painting the faces of the people who make Canberra an interesting place to live. Approximately 25 portraits will be completed over 3 years and exhibited in 2013. The community have been involved in selecting subjects and on completion of each portrait there will be an official unveiling event to celebrate the life of the portrait subject.
Artist's Statement
Barbara van der Linden was born in Holland in 1949; she migrated to Melbourne, Australia, with her family in 1952. In 1965 she moved to Canberra to study fine art at the first Canberra School of Art, which was situated at the Canberra Bus Depot in Kingston. She received a scholarship to study Graphic Design at East Sydney Tech. In 1970 she was awarded a Degree of Graphic Design. In 1974 she was invited to teach Design and Drawing at the Canberra School of Art, she also taught Art in Canberra and NSW. Barbara was a graphic Designer for 20 years in the Commonwealth Public Service. In 2004 she became a full time artist and has her studio at M16 Artspace.
As a migrant with no extended family, Barbara found that not fitting in had the advantage of enabling her to explore not only her environment but her inner imagination. Her work is often experimental, very strong in colour and variety of subject and medium. She has a close connection to the human form.
Barbara founded the Marsden Arts Group in 2003 which was awarded the 2009 Chief Ministers Award for the Arts . She is also a coordinator of the M16 Artspace Painting Group 'Women@work'. Barbara is a full time artist and mentor for Natalie Hallett an intellectually challenged artist. Barbara also designs and teaches 'Unlocking Creativity' workshops.
FACES OF CANBERRA Barbara is currently working on a project for the Canberra Centenary Celebrations, painting the faces of the people who make Canberra an interesting place to live. Approximately 25 portraits will be completed over 3 years and exhibited in 2013. The community have been involved in selecting subjects and on completion of each portrait there will be an official unveiling event to celebrate the life of the portrait subject.
