Barbara Quayle

Barbara Quayle is a proud Barkindji/Malyangapa Nghuungku (woman), artist and jeweller from Menindee, New South Wales. Her work is created and inspired by her Barkindji Kiira (Country) along the Darling-Baaka River, offering a bridge to the deep, spiritual connection we all share with Country. Her work is a celebration of her culture & heritage, incorporating a variety of gum nuts, native plants, emu feathers, echidna quills, and other natural materials all transformed with care and respect into jewellery that carries the essence of her culture. Barbara has exhibited at the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and won the Nghuugnku Prize for Excellence at the Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards in 2022 & 2023.

Barbara is also an activist, campaigning for the health of the Baaka through community advocacy. In 2023, Barbara was a key collaborator on More Than a Fish Kill, a live event in Kinchega National Park and subsequent video highlighting the aftermath of mass fish kills on the Baaka, developed in partnership with CAD Factory, University of Sydney and National Museum of Australia.

Most recently, she has been in Uruguay supporting the Barkindji Plants Project at the International Conference of Community Psychology. She is the vice-president of the Menindee Aboriginal Elders Council, sits on the Barkindji Native Title Board and NSW Aboriginal Water Strategy Board and is a founding guide of Barkindji cultural immersion tour group, Wontanella Tours, started with her nephew David Doyle.

Australia is Aboriginal Land. Always Was, Always Will Be.