page_title: Caroline Barker (artist)
section_title: Artist career
hierarchical_section_title: Caroline Barker (artist) / Artist career
caption_attribution_description: English: Portrait of Rhonda Kelly by artist Caroline Barker, 1942 Rhonda Baker was the first Miss Australia in 1942. She was painted by Brisbane portrait painter, Caroline Barker in her George Street Studio. Miss Barker was a vice president at the Royal Queensland Art Society. She also taught there.
context_page_description: Caroline Barker was an Australian artist. She is best known for her portraits and still life. The Museum of Brisbane holds a large collection of her works.
context_section_description: Barker returned to Brisbane in November 1926. Initially she worked in the studios of Vida Lahey and Daphne Mayo before establishing her own studio in George Street.
  In 1928, Barker painted a portrait of Lord Mayor of Brisbane William Jolly in his mayoral robes and exhibited it at the Royal Queensland Art Society. Charles Herbert Gough was so impressed by the work that he initiated a public subscription to purchase the portrait as a gift for the mayor from the citizens of Brisbane. As Jolly was a popular mayor, the public were generous in their donations and the portrait was presented to the mayor in December 1928.
  Two of her works were used by The Queenslander newspaper for their colour covers, one of poinsettias in 1930 and another of gerbras and bougainvillea in 1931.
  Barker taught art at a number of schools including Somerville House (1935-1946), Loreto College Coorparoo, Clayfield College, and St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School and at her own home. Her students include many notable artists including:
  Margaret Cilento
  Betty Churcher (née Cameron) 
  Dorothy Coleman
  Lola McCausland
  Margaret Olley
  John Rigby
  Hugh Sawrey 
  Gordon Shepherdson
caption: Portrait of Rhonda Kelly by artist Caroline Barker, 1942
exif: {}