Clenny Oak 2023, oil on panel, 30 x 48 inches. Courtesy/LewAllen Galleries

LEWALLEN GALLERIES News:

SANTA FE — LewAllen Galleries presents an exhibition of new paintings, entitled Timothy Barr: My Nature, opening Sept. 1 and remaining on view through Sept. 30, 2023. A closing artist reception will be held 5-7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29, during the Railyard Arts District Last Friday Art Walk.

Barr’s celebrated oil on panel paintings intimately convey rustic stone walled farmhouses, majestic old trees, and tranquil lakes that embody the solitude and grandeur of American pastoral life. Through years of experience and imagination, the artist has brilliantly captured the idyllic beauty of the architecture and landscape of the countryside.

While recognized for his remarkable technique, skill, and focus on detail, Barr is especially noted for his sophisticated use of light. He has stated, “I’m interested in the contrast that light brings to a scene. [Light is] fleeting and needs to be slowed down with paint so we can love it always.” Gloriously, Barr imbues his paintings with the characteristics of Luminism, a late 19th century technique highlighting reflective waters, magnificent skies, and heavenly spot lit pastures. Every detail, from individual blades of grass to inlaid stones and bricks, to the contours of a tree branch, is painted with precision and a striking degree of lucidity, resulting in tranquil, yet radiant images. Barr’s oil paintings are also noted for his use of multiple glazes.

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Barr’s love of and connection to nature is strikingly represented in each of paintings. He received a BFA from the Tyler School of Fine Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. Barr’s work has been featured in numerous museum exhibitions and can be found in both public and private collections.