Collected from across her social media platforms, whether they reference the rugby field or the stage, in celebration or in protest, Barbara McGrady’s photographs each present bodies in unified motion. A raised fist or two hands clapping; bodies tensed or relaxed; through their description of movement, these images remind us the power and nuance of collective activity. McGrady’s camera bears witness to the shared spirit of First Nations creative and multi-generational expression, through dynamic images that centre the joy and resilience of contemporary Aboriginal life and culture in urban Sydney.
Barbara McGrady
Young ones ready to play Oztag, Wentworth Park, Sydney, 2020
#100Womendancing at Mudgin-Gal Women's Festival, Redfern Community Centre, Sydney, 2021
Stop Black Deaths in Custody Rally, Sydney, 2019
Stop Black Deaths in Custody Rally, Sydney, 2019
Rayma Johnson & dancers performing at the opening of the exhibition 'Celebrating 50 years of The Aboriginal Legal Service', Sydney, 2021
Lance Franklin of the Sydney Swans, arm tattoos, Sydney Cricket Ground, 2019
Mindaribba Sisters versus Redfern, Final of the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout tournament, 2012
Performers dancing as part of 'The Vigil', Sydney, 2021. Co-directed by NRL great Dean Widders and Bangarra's Artistic Director Stephen Page, the performance brought together men from the worlds of sport, the arts, politics, business and academia, to celebrate the strength of First Nations warriors and the responsibility men have for their families and communities.
First Nations contingent at the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, Sydney Cricket Ground, 2021
Gomeroi Dancers performing during Yabun, Sydney, 2021. The festival went online due to COVID19
Aunty Barbara McGrady is a leading First Nations photo-journalist. Her photographs form a significant visual record of First Nations identity and contemporary representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the positive contributions they make to culture and community. This is especially true of Aunty Barbara’s photography at sporting events, including games at the NSW Koori Knockout, NRL and AFL, as well as boxing title fights.