Elizabeth Barnes was born and educated in the United States and currently resides in Vancouver. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.
Her paintings are informed by an interest in science and technology, as well as by her interest in the science of pigments and color theory. Through a ritual process of self-imposed restrictions, involving the mediation of tape and observation of digital colour processing, Barnes has simulated a reflexive condition referencing the past as well as the present and possible future. Colour acts as both data and energy, while the touch of the hand connects to our human core. The work asks the beholder to allow for meaning to become latent, latent in the sense of a time delay within the system, in turn, allowing for a holistic consideration of what it means to be human.
Citizenship
Dual American and Canadian
Education
1993 MFA Studio Art, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
1990 BFA Painting & Printmaking, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
2000/01 Multimedia Certificate, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Professional Experience
2009-present Faculty of Fine Arts, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC
2006-2015 Non-regular Faculty, Emily Carr University or Art and Design, Vancouver, BC
2010-2011 Non-regular Faculty, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbottsford, BC
2001-2005 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
1998-2005 Instructor, Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon
1997-2002 Community Artist, Regional Arts and Culture Neighborhood Arts Program, Portland, Oregon
1991-1993 Teaching Assistant (instructor of record), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Solo/Two/Three-person Exhibitions
2018 Arbutus Gallery, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey, BC (upcoming solo)
2016 Geometric Repetition, Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas, TX (3-person show)
2015 An Assurance of Doubt, guest artist, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver, BC (3-person show)
2013 Colourplay, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver, BC (3-person show)
Endless Murmuring, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB (solo)
2012 Where Do You Want To Go Today? Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB (solo)
2009 Juice, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB (solo)
Network, View Modern Art, Victoria, BC (solo)
2008 New Work, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC (2-person show)
2007 Chroma, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB (solo)
Pure Concentrate, Winsor Gallery, (two-person show),
2005 New Work, Studio 333 Artist Collective, Portland, OR (solo)
2004 The October Show, Studio 333 Artist Collective, Portland, OR (solo)
2003 The October Show, Studio 333 Artist Collective, Portland, OR (solo)
2002 The October Show, Studio 333 Artist Collective, Portland, OR (solo)
1999 New Work, Blackfish Gallery (Artist cooperative,) Portland, OR (solo)
1998 Natural Order/ Disorder, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR (2-person show)
1993 The Metaphorical Shadow (thesis exhibition), Hanes Art Center, Chapel Hill, NC (solo)
Group Exhibitions
2017 Shift, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC
2016 Core, Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas, TX (guest curated group show
2015 Infinite Space, ARC Gallery, UBC, Vancouver, BC
2014 Summer Group Show, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Fine Art Faculty Exhibition, Fir Gallery, KPU, Surrey, BC
Art for Food, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, BC
2012 Rotating Gallery Group Exhibition, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Art for Food, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
2011 Summer Group Show, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Summer Group Show, Calgary, AB
2010 Toronto International Art Fair, w/ Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Toronto, ON
Art School Confidential, Kwantlen Gallery, Surrey, BC
Summer Group Show, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, BC
2009 Neo Minimalism, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
2008 Summer Group Show, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
2007 The New, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Ottawa, ON
Inaugural Exhibition, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Summer Group Show, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
2006 Juice, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Introduction, Herringer Kiss Gallery, Calgary, AB
East West North, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2005 Defrost, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2004 Saturated, Autzen Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Dialogue, Littman Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Roots and Routes, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Centre, Portland, OR
Digital Rev(s)olution, Mount Hood Community College
Faculty Show, Northview Gallery, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
2001 Art Fills the Void, Northview Gallery, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
2000/1999 2x2x2000, Blackfish Cooperative Gallery, Portland, OR
1999 Faculty Show, Northview Gallery, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
1998 Images of the Virgin, Galeria Tonantzin, San Juan Bautista, CA
Us/ Them: Breaking Down Barriers, Orange County Centre for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
1997 The Four Elements, Blackfish Cooperative Gallery, Portland, OR
The Brain and Self, University of Arizona, Copenhagen and Elsinore, Denmark
1993 Prescriptive Memory and the Residual Body, Victoria Room, San Francisco, CA
Eight Artists Here and Now, Ackland Museum of Art, Chapel Hill, NC
Bibliography
2012 “Pick of the Week,” Swerve Magazine, The Calgary Herald, by Jon Roe, October 19, 2012, p. 19
2007 “Controlled Chaos,” Fast Forward Weekly, Calgary, AB, exhibition review by Janelle Dubois, June 2007.
“Colibri”, feature image, The Province E-List, February 1, 2007, p. C12
2004 “Saturated” Willamette Week pick and review by Richard Speer, Vol. 31, Issue 3, November 24, 2004, p. 57.
“Dialogue”, Exhibition Catalogue, Littman Gallery, Portland, OR, October 2004, p.5.
1999 “Blackfish Gallery 2x2x2000” catalogue, Portland, Oregon, December 1999, p. 10.
1997 “Elusive Mind”, Exhibition Catalogue selected image, Copenhagen and Elsinore, Denmark, August 1997, p.12.
Publications / Presentations
2017 Barnes, E.A., Repetition, Permutation, and Incidental Resonance, presentation at annual conference of the University Art Association of Canada, Banff, AB
1998 Barnes, E.A., Review of Francis Alys Solo Exhibition and Installation, Anodyne, Vol. 2, No. 12, September 1998, p. 40.
Barnes, E.A., Review of Collaborations, a group show curated by Paul Arensmyer, Anodyne, Vol. 2, No. 11, August 1998, p.7.
Barnes, E.A. Review of Oregon College of Art and Craft Thesis Exhibition, Anodyne, Vol.2, No.10, July 1998, p.38.
Barnes, E.A. Review of Ralph Rosenborg Solo Exhibition, Anodyne, Vol. 2, No. 9, June 1998, p.41.
Barnes, E.A. Review of Valeska Soares installation, Anodyne, Vol. 2, No. 8, May 1998, p. 40.
Barnes, E.A., Review of The October Show from interviews with artists at Studio 333, Anodyne, Vol. 3, No.1, p. 36.
Grants and Awards
2014 Dorothy Wiegner Fellowship for Artist Residency at Vermont Studio Center
1993 Smith Fund Grant for Artists, Chapel Hill, NC
1991-1993 Graduate Teaching Fellowship, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
1990 Magna cum laude, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Women’s Art Club Annual Award for Excellence, Philadelphia, PA
Collections
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Cenovus Collection, Calgary, AB
Encana Collection, Calgary, AB
Polygon Collection, Vancouver, BC
Portland Community College, Portland, OR
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Various private collections in North America and Europe
Professional Organizations
2013-present University Art Association of Canada, member
2001-present College Art Association of America, member
2003-2005 Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, charter member
1997-2000 Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, Chair, Exhibition Committee, artist, owner/ member
