Barry Ball was born in Feilding New Zealand and schooled in South Africa. He trained as a Potter at Chelsea Pottery then Briglin Pottery in London.

After more than a decade abroad he returned to NZ and quickly rose to respected status in the ceramic sphere. He received a Merit award  at the prestigious Fletcher Challenge Awards and had a pot accepted at the Faenza Exhibition in Faenza, Italy.

After 28 years Barry transitioned his powerful sense of colour layering using various techniques and spontaneous abstraction to to fine art painting.

He has had two solo exhibitions at SOCA art gallery in Auckland and shows in many other galleries throughout NZ.