Barbara Straussberg
Contact Information
Shop Barbara Straussberg on:
Painting/Fiber Arts
Archived Works
Artist's Biography
Barbara Straussberg's acrylic paintings are included in numerous corporate, museum and private collections including: Biggs Museum of American Art, Fox Rothschild, and Brandywine Realty Company. She was recently awarded an artist Fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and a merit-based grant to attend a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in Vermont. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pennsylvania with a Distinction in Art History, and studied painting and printmaking at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her studio is located in the Norristown Arts Building, a vibrant collective of artists’ studios and galleries in the Philadelphia area.
Artist's Statement
As an artist, my materials and how I use them, are the essence of my art. I am always looking for new ways to apply the paint. Painting and drawing work in unison to form a complete and truthful painting. The act of painting is a personal journey to find out how I can more fully express my response to my surroundings. Subconsciously, I draw from nature and the world around me to record in a personal language what I see and feel through paint. A distinct palette emerges and my work conveys a strong sense of moment and place. Color is my primary form of expression, but I also rely on line, form, surface texture, pattern and collage.
Along with my paintings, I produce a series of works on paper which inspire and inform my paintings. There is a unique dialogue between the two forms, which is integral to the development of my entire body of work. I employ a variety of techniques in applying the paint such as dripping, rubbing, and scratching. The tools I use to paint can be as simple and immediate as my fingers and paper rags, which bring me in direct contact with my medium. I am ultimately concerned with my relationship to the painted surface.
In recent years, I have been concentrating on the potential of painting and drawing to go beyond the canvas. Through the medium of printmaking, I was introduced to the ancient Korean paper-manipulating technique of Joomchi, where an artist works layers of handmade paper while wet to form one sheet of paper. I roll the papers to bind the fibers together and open up the paper to create transparency. Additional fragments of paper lithographs are incorporated into the layers using a collage technique.
I approach Joomchi from a painterly background. My focus is on the potential of the paper to reveal the printed image underneath and provide visual interest through texture, lace and line. I’m drawn to the possibility of taking a traditional craft technique used to make clothing and functional objects and reinterpreting it into a contemporary art form.
Selected Exhibitions
Solo
2020
Pathways, URBN Headquarters Naval Yard, Philadelphia, PA
Barbara Straussberg, Carolyn and Howard Alber Gallery, Allens Lane Art Center, Philaelphia, PA
2019
Natureworks, Freeman's Auction, Wayne, PA
Amis Trattoria, Devon Yards, Devon, PA
2015
Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, Solo, Wayne, PA
2013
Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, Solo, Wayne, PA
2012
The Lawrence Gallery at Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA
2011
The Community Music School, Trappe, PA
2010
Virginia S. Block Gallery, Montclair, NJ
2009
Mona Lisa Gallery, Maplewood, NJ
2007
Cozen O’Connor, Philadelphia, PA
The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE, 2007.
2006
JMS Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005
JMS Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE
2003
Atelier Fine Art Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ
2000
Rosenfeld Gallery, Solo, Philadelphia, PA
1998
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1997
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1995
Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Group
2020
Une Exposition d'arts Obessionels de la Fibre, Gravers Lane Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
CRAFT!, Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Into the Woods, InLiquid at Park Towne Place Museum District Residences, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Contemporary Craft Exhibition, The Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE
The Physicality of Painting, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
The Nature of Abstraction, Henry Gallery at Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA
New Paintings, Three-Person Show, The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE
2017
Biggs Picture Landscape Exhibition , Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE
Purchase Prize
A Celebration of Art & Life, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
2016
Three-Person Show, The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE
2015
Select New Artists, Gravers Lane Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014
35th Anniversary Show, The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE
2013
Mixed Media: Paintings, Pots and Clay Monoprints, The Station Gallery, Greenville, DE
Small Works Show, Pagus Gallery, Norristown, PA
2011
Gawanghwamoon International Art Fair (GIAF), Seoul, Korea
Asian: American: Homogenous, Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA
Considering Collage, Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ, Invitational
2007
Beneath the Layers, The Pierro Gallery of South Orange, NJ
2001
Art Matters 20th Anniversary Show, The Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
2000
Non-Objective Abstraction, Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1999
Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1993
92nd Annual Student Exhibition, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Artist's Bibliography
2020
"Artshow Interview" hosted by Executive Director Craig Stover, Allens Lane Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
2015
Lieberman, Michael "Nineteen years and counting for Norristown’s Pagus Gallery" Art Blog
Johnson, Tara Lynn "Norristown Arts Building welcomes visitors during Open Studios event" Ticket/Arts & Entertainment, Montgomery Newspapers, December 2014
2013
Cover/Feature Article, Ticket/Arts & Entertainment, Montgomery Newspapers, May 2013
Dell, Larry "Get Out: Hot Stuff" Local Maplewood - New York Times Blog, 2010
Gaslight, Arts &Entertainment, NJ, August 2006
Ticket/Arts & Entertainment, Montgomery Newspapers, March 2005
Strauss, R.B., Art Matters Magazine, PA, January 2005
Nouveau Delaware Valley, PA, October, 2003
Strauss, R.B., Art Matters Magazine, PA, March 2002
Reality Check, ICS Deloitte Employee Quarterly, PA, 1995
Awards and Honors
2019
Artist Fellowship, The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA
2017
Merit Grant, The Vermont Studio Center Artist Residency, Johnson, VT
Purchase Prize, Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE
2016
Founder’s Award, The Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Cheltnham, PA
2012
Jim Bachman Memorial Award, Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
2010
American Framing Award, Phila./Tri-State Artists Equity, Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown, PA
1994
Liquitex Excellence in Art Product Grant Award, Binney & Smith
1992
Cuff/Samack Prize for Abstract Painting, Honorable Mention, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1986
Atochem Competition Winner, The Annual Beaux Arts Ball, The Foundation for Architecture, Philadelphia, PA
Collections
Biggs Museum of American Art, Permanent Collection
Fox Rothschild, Wilmington Office
Workplace Environment, Partners Office
Brandywine Realty Corporation, Lobby
SAP America
Nicholson Associates, Board Room
and Private Collections
Education
1993
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Painting Major
1983
The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
BA, Distinction in Art History
1979 - 1980
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Recent Artist Member Mentions on InLiquid
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Barbara Straussberg: PAPER REVEALED
In “Paper Revealed”, Straussberg moves from her abstract gestural painting to working with an ancient Korean paper process known as … See Full Post
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Fade to Gist
Our memories are our connection to the past, present, and future. Yet like a kaleidoscope, our recollections morph and recombine … See Full Post
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Hunterdon Art Museum 2021 Members Exhibition
This annual exhibition showcases the diverse talents of the members of the Hunterdon Art Museum. The artists work in an … See Full Post
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Barbara Straussberg Workshop: Abstract Painting and the Paper Art of Joomchi
Please join artist Barbara Straussberg for a virtual demo on “Abstract Painting and the Paper Art of Joomchi” hosted by … See Full Post
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Barbara Straussberg Joomchi Workshop
Please join artist Barbara Straussberg for a virtual demo on “Abstract Painting and the Paper Art of Joomchi” hosted by the Allens Lane Art Center in Philadelphia on January 30th from 1-2 pm!
