Liz Barber

Harbor 8, abstract painting on canvas, layered with bright colors and blue tones

2023

Liz Barber is a distinguished contemporary artist known for her light-infused paintings inspired by the ocean and water. Soft & sultry vibrant abstracts will sweep you away. Barber studied painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, and currently is based in Georgia, USA. Commissions and permanent collections include: The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT, The Ritz Carlton and The Four Seasons Hotels. Barber’s method is varied, first using ink, gouache and watercolour to lay the foundation of the artwork. These translucent “footprints” are manipulated and circulated around to form the composition. She uses graphite and oil pastel to create drawn elements. Mark making plays a big role in the language of Barber’s work while also acting as a resting place for the eye. Translucency, texture, and layers are created in epic proportion in Barber’s paintings and are the result of her varied experimentation process. These organic bursts of energy inspired by nature's movement are the result of adding water and other mediums to the materials. Leaning towards calm, soothing organic application over the vigorous brushstroke, Barber applies more distinct edges with oil paint to pronounce the gems in the underlying layers. "My paintings are layered bursts of energy inspired by nature's movement, fusing the present with memories. Form, line and color fall into a sea of emotion. Shapes and reflections drift into volumetric configurations. I feel this effect captures nature's essence; forceful texture and gentle luminosity." - Liz Barber