Barker Fairley, OC RCA (May 21, 1887 – October 11, 1986) was a British-Canadian painter, and scholar who made a significant contribution to the study of German literature, particularly for the work of Goethe, and was an early champion and friend of the Group of Seven.

His perspective and writings strongly influenced a burgeoning academic and artistic culture in his new chosen home.

In 1949, he was invited to Bryn Mawr College to deliver lectures on the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, but was barred entry by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Barker Fairley spent almost all of his professional artistic life in Ontario, where he was also mentor and teacher to Charles Meanwell and Vincent Thomas.

His daughter Ann (Fairley) Schabas was dean of the Faculty of Library and Information Science at the University of Toronto.