In 1971 Barbara graduated with an AAS in Fine Art from Elizabeth Seton College, received her bachelor’s degree in Art Education in 1988, and her Master of Art in painting in 1990 from SUNY New Paltz. She studied the figure with Franklin Alexander at Barrett House in Poughkeepsie and in Woodstock. Barbara studied with Mel Stabin and Christine Debrowski. In 2002 she studied with Gale Barnett in Giverny, France. She taught art in the Newburgh district teaching the advanced painting classes, the AP art classes at Newburgh Free Academy until her retirement in 2014. Her main influences include Monet, Edward Hopper, Windslow Homer and Michaelangelo. She has been painting her entire life.

In late May of 2015 while painting en plein air on a local farm, Barbara began adding the migrant workers to her work. At first, they were faceless figures in the fields. They became prominent in her compositions; the figure becoming large/cropped.  These workers are some of the “faceless” people that impact our lives. These workers often remain unseen and unknown despite their presence in our Valley for many months each year.  Getting to know and then paint them has transformed Barbara and her work. Her large-scale drawings and paintings have transitioned to portraits of the men and women in our society that are invisible.

She is a member of Arts Mid-Hudson and was one of the founding members and past president of The Real Gallery, an artist cooperative in Cornwall, NY that existed for 20 years.

Barbara has participated in juried, solo, and group shows throughout the United States. Her work is in private e collections in the United States, Italy, Germany, and Guam

She has had work in the Woodstock Museum of Art, Woodstock, NY as well as a solo show in 2016. Her work has also been in the Katonah Museum in Katonah, NY. Since the development of this body of work she has had several regional solo and group shows.

In May of 2019 she received a $2500. Individual Artist grant from Arts Mid Hudson to continue a series of large scale drawings of the workers including text.

July of 2022 Barbara won the “Artivist” award from Arts Mid Hudson- Ulster County Executive Arts Award

The Beatrice & Sidney Laufman award for her drawings in the Woodstock Art Association and Museum  show entitled Focus- Art and Social Justice 2022

The following is a listing of the last 20 years of selected exhibitions.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2022 Cuneen-Hacket Gallery Poughkeepsie, NY
2022, 2019, 2016 The Falcon Gallery, Marlboro, NY
2019  Lifebridge Foundation, Rosendale, NY
2018  The Lofts gallery, Beacon, NY
2018  ABCLatino gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
 2021,2018 ,2016 The Falcon Gallery,Marlboro NY,
2018  LBGTQ Center gallery, Kingston, NY
2017  Woodstock Art Association and Museum, Woodstock, NY.
2017  People of the Land, Seven21 Gallery, Kingston, NY
2014  Seasons, Beacon Library, Beacon, NY
2010  Solo Exhibit, LGBTQ Center Gallery, Kingston, NY
2009  Solo Exhibit, Locust Grove Historic Site, Poughkeepsie, NY
2004  25 Year Retrospective, Museum of the Hudson Highlands, Cornwall, NY

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022 Cornell Creative Center for the Arts, Kingston, NY
2022 Art Society of Kingston, NY
2022 Howland Cultural & Arts Center, Beacon, NY
2022 Focus:Art and Social Justice, Woodstock Art Association & Museum, Woodstock, NY
2019  MIXMASTER  Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT.
2019  Focus: Illumination 10 person show Woodstock Art Association & Museum, Woodstock, NY
2019  Far and Wide Woodstock Art Association, Woodstock, NY
2019  Emancipation of the Mind, curated by Willie Mae Brown, Arts Mid Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY
2019  Arde la Tierra/Aching Land, Martinez Gallery, Troy, NY
2019  Saturated an eye for color, Barrett House, Poughkeepsie, NY
2018  Pound Ridge Library, It’s All About Color, Katonah Museum Art Association, Katonah, NY
2018  Loft Artists The Loft, Stamford, Conn.
2018  Tri State biennial juried exhibit, Signals Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY          
2018  Juried Member exhibit, Barrett House, Poughkeepsie, NY
2017  Juried Member exhibit, Barrett House, Poughkeepsie, NY
2017  Art of Politics, Barrett House, Poughkeepsie, NY
2017  Far and Wide, Woodstock Art Association and Museum, Woodstock, NY
2017  Inspirations, Hammond Museum, North Salem, NY
2017  The Art of New York, Arkell Museum, Canajoharie, NY
2016  Plein Air, Arts Mid -Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY
2011  Two Person exhibit, Lifebridge Sanctuary  Rosendale, NY
2010  Two Person exhibit, Artroom Gallery & Studio, Marlboro, NY
2009  Group exhibit   Millbrook Winery (winner label competition)