Art

Mary Martin Gallery to Present “Tom Barnes: A Retrospective”

Published

1 year ago

June 28, 2023

Press Release

The public is invited to Mary Martin Gallery on July 7th for the opening reception of “Tom Barnes: A Retrospective” which will be held from 5 pm to 8 pm at 143 East Bay Street.

Barnes is widely recognized both nationally and internationally for his distinctive style figurative paintings. From 1972 until today, the subject of figures, expressions, attitudes and demeanors has been the focal point of Barnes’s work.

This exhibit presents the early, middle, and later years of the artist’s progression, allowing the viewer to see the evolution of styles and development of his specialized paint technique.

Barnes grew up in the pine forests and coastal plains of South Georgia. His first exposure to art was at the Telfair Academy of Art in Savannah, where he spent weeks visiting family during summer school breaks. Besides the yearly exposure to art, Barnes was also exposed to fashion design by the extremely elegant and fashion-conscious twins, Bess and Lila. The combination of art and fashion resulted in a life-long influence on the young Barnes and his artistic style.

Some are male, but Barnes’s subjects are predominately women. “The subtext of each of my images is that women are captivating, capable, and have a strong presence. I represent them in their fashion statement and their postures” states Barnes. The most significant element is that they are looking back at the viewer intently, resulting in truly thought-provoking works of art created with watercolor on canvas, a technique which Barnes pioneered.

Barnes elongates his figures, an exaggeration of features that is often associated with Mannerism. The movement started during the Renaissance when artists elongated their subjects to increase the sense of elegance and grace. El Greco, Reynolds, Modigliani are some of the masters of Mannerism. Adding to the elegance is a touch of gold! Barnes adds a touch of liquid 14kt gold to each painting.

Works of Tom Barnes can be found in residential and corporate art collections around the world. He is represented by Mary Martin Galleries in Charleston.