Rex Battarbee worked as a landscape artist following training at the Commercial Art School, Melbourne under Leyshon White. He began an association with the Hermannsburg Mission while painting in the area and his work featured in exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney. This residency brought him into contact with Albert Namatjira and they began a lengthy association.
painter, made a second visit to Central Australia with his friend John Gardner in 1934 and they were invited to show their art at Hermannsburg Mission. In 1945 Battarbee set up a gallery, the Tmara-Mara Gallery, in his Alice Springs home to sell the work of the Arrernte (Hermannsburg Aboriginal) artists.
Battarbee died in the Old Timers Home, Alice Springs.
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