Wiremu Barriball

Wiremu Barriball is a Māori visual artist and musician born in 1974 in the small, close-nit township of Ōtaki on the Kapiti Coast, Aotearoa, NZ.

Proud of his tribal lineage, he belongs to Te Atiawa via his father, and Ngati Raukawa and Te Rarawa via his mother. He has 5 children to Geneva Pomana, his partner of 22 years who is of Ngati Porou descent.

Barriball is a renown Ta Moko artist, a journey that started with humble beginnings circa 1994, and now attracts an ever increasing client base with many international visitors travelling to his Horowhenua based studio to be adorned with his work. He also makes regular guest appearances in studios around the world.

He has a background in graphic design and illustration and many of his published works can be found in educational resources in schools around the country.

As a musician, Wiremu has toured the world and has played for some of NZ's top acts, especially within the NZ reggae scene such as David Grace & Injustice, House of Shem, Foundation, Hope Road, Aarahdna and Sammy J.

In 2016 he joined the internationally acclaimed New Zealand reggae sensation "Katchafire" as the groups lead guitarist. Katchafire is among the country's most famous exports who consistently tour throughout Australia, Europe and the U.S with fans from all around the globe.

Wiremu remains deeply passionate about his art and music... and when he's not touring the world rocking the stage or slinging ink in a tattoo parlour in Texas!... you'll find him at home enjoying whanau time or tinkering away in his humble little art space experimenting, creating and utilising his Ta Moko skills art to create meaningful, exciting and aesthetically pleasing art creations.