Carlos Barrios

RAW

I like it raw, real, awake, authentic, wondering with a bit of a punch.Spontaneous expression that delivers curiosity to both maker and viewer.Not over worked, decorated or embellished. Rather ‘urgent faxes’ as the late John Olsen once described my works. This exhibition holds the reflection of some years of my practice up until now. Here I offer you insight into this creative path I am on, which is so different for each of us.  Please lend me your eyes, your spirit, your soul so I might share these musings with you.

Carlos Barrios 2026

“From the harshness and brutality of life in Central America Carlos Barrios presents himself.  His paintings naturally have a rasping, hungry brittleness about them.  His work reminds me of urgent faxes in which no compromise, no sweetness are allowed.  We are indeed most fortunate to have this experience before us, it is so different from the usual Australian studio experience.”  John Olsen 2010

Carlos Manuel Barrios Rosa was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America in 1966. Barrios' father was an archaeologist who introduced him to the art and artifacts of ancient Central American cultures from an early age. Barrios first began to paint at the age of six. Barrios was mentored by the artist Ramón Merino in El Salvador who taught him the technique of oil painting. Barrios immigrated to Australia in 1990 where upon arrival in Sydney he joined the East Sydney Technical College, which was later established as the National Art School.

The primary subject matter of Barrios' work includes the human form, animals and spirits. Barrios works with the mediums of oil, charcoal, acrylic, mixed media and bronze. Carlos Barrios had won numerous art awards including Salvadorian Art Prize, El Salvador1995, Zacatecoluca Art Prize, El Salvador1995, Cultural Diversity Art Prize, Fairfield 1997, Spanish Club Art Prize, Sydney 1999 and 2000 and Liverpool City Art Prize 2009. His artwork was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and the Australian Museum. Carlos Barrios has twice been a finalist for the Art Gallery of New South Wales Sulman Art Prize, in 2005 and 2006. He was also a finalist for the Blake Prize for Religious Art, in 2006 and 2007. Carlos Barrios had exhibited extensively in different states in Australia, Miami in U.S.A, and in China. z