Barbara Elam

Artist’s Statement

            My work explores relationships between men and women and meanings inherent in the artistic presentation of women, examining art through the ages. Work is generally in a series with images that interact or stand alone. Ancient art is of particular interest, especially Italy’s Etruscan culture. Many of my pieces are inspired from artifacts studied in Italian museums while on sabbaticals there.

            My goal as an artist is to create powerful images, whether using mixed media, printmaking, photography or paintings, that invite discussion and encourage viewers to think in new ways.

Artist’s Biography

            Barbara Elam was born in Wichita Falls, Texas. After receiving her BFA from the University of Texas at Dallas, she attended East Texas State where she received her MFA.  She studied further at the University of Dallas, received an Fellowship and continued art at the Bunting Institute of Harvard/Radcliffe. She retired from twenty year’s teaching printmaking and photography at Depauw University and Rockford College in 2005, when she bought an art gallery and studio in Denison, Texas where she teaches workshops and continues to produce her art.

            Since 1980, Barbara has focused on printmaking. Her work has been shown in more than 250 national exhibits and in Mexico, France, England, Japan and Viet Nam. Her work is in permanent collections in the Fogg Museum, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Milwaukee Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, university, corporate and private collections.

            Recent exhibits from 2008 to 2006 include The Eternal Image, Oldfield Davis Gallery, Dallas, Texas; Monoprint, monotype Midamerica Print Council Juried National Exhibit, Quincy University, Quincy Illinois, award granted; Also Gallery, Dallas, Visiting Artist, Southeastern Oklahoma State University ,; Juror, Super Heroes; A National All-Media Exhibit, Denison, Texas; and curator of several all-media exhibits for 416 West Gallery, Denison, Texas.