Artist’s Statement
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I’ve closely observed women my whole life- my mother, her friends, my aunts, grandmothers.
I have always been mesmerized by their ability to move from one identity to the next as life demands. One moment they are warm hostesses, the next they are passionate advocates for change. They celebrate a friend’s pregnancy even as they mourn their own miscarriage. They care for their friends so tenderly, then transform into demanding career women as they enter the office. Sexy and brilliant. Emotional and stable. Nurturing and driven.
My mixed media portraits portray the deep emotions that come as a result of living as a wildly complex creature in a culture that continually asks women to be less complicated. I paint vibrant abstract backgrounds contrasted with dark charcoal to reflect the contrasting characteristics we all hold within ourselves. Often layering in natural elements and florals, I draw attention to the idea that we are constantly blooming, evolving, and moving between the many identities inside each of us.
BIO
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Madeline K Barry is a muralist, live event painter, and commission artist based in Atlanta, GA, USA.
She has been honing her skills in mixed media abstract portraiture since 2016, working primarily with acrylic and charcoal on canvas. She explores the complex nature of women and the way it evolves as a result of negative and positive experiences.
Madeline studied at the Academie Mechelen in Belgium. A part of the O.M. Art Collective, she expanded her career first through live painting performance at conferences and events before continuing with solo and group exhibitions throughout Belgium, Germany, and later the U.S. Collaborating with artists locally and internationally, Madeline finds much of her inspiration through stories from women around the world.
CV
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2023
The Other Art Fair
Dallas, Texas
October 5 - 8 2023.
2022
Solo Show: "The Truth About Women"
VentureX Greenville- Plush Mills
August 31 - March 1 2022
Live Painting: Women’s Speaker Collective (WSC) Bootcamp.
Atlanta, GA. April 30, 2022.
2021
Portrait Painting Class.
Guardian Studios.
Atlanta, GA. December 10th, 2021.
Winter Collection Release.
Online. December 3rd, 2021.
Be Rich Mural Campaign in collaboration with Northpoint Ministries.
3,000 sq ft mural at Atlanta Mission Restoration House.
Atlanta, GA. September 14 - September 28, 2021.
JLL Atlanta Neighborhood Canvas Art Project.
Atlanta, GA. September 13, 2021.
Be Rich Mural Campaign in collaboration with Northpoint Ministries.
200 sq ft. mural at Otwell Middle School.
Cumming, GA. September 7 - September 10, 2021.
Summer Collection Release- Interpretations.
Online/Atlanta, GA. July 29, 2021.
Portrait Painting Class in collaboration with BeLoved Ministries.
Atlanta, GA. June 25th, 2021.
Summer Levis Jacket Collection Release.
Online/Atlanta, GA. June 14th, 2021.
Group Market at The Reverie.
Atlanta, GA. May 1st, 2021.
Auction for Texas Victims in collaboration with The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center.
Online. March 2021.
Live Wedding Painting.
Columbia, SC March 26th / Marietta, SC March 20th.
Abstract Florals In-Person Class in collaboration with BeLoved Ministries
Atlanta, GA. March 19th, 2021.
Live Painting Performance in collaboration with League Middle School.
Greenville, SC. March 11th, 2021.
Solo Exhibit in collaboration with Stonecreek Women’s Conference.
Alpharetta, GA. January 24th, 2021.
2020
Live Wedding Painting
Travelers Rest, SC September 18th / Charleston, SC May 16th.
Fall Collection Release.
Atlanta, GA. October 20th, 2020.
Live Painting Performance: Madeline K Barry X Amber Watson Weddings.
Greer, SC. June 28th, 2020.
Abstract Florals Online Class.
Online/Atlanta, GA. May 6th, 2020.
January Collection Release.
Online/Atlanta, GA. January 31st, 2020.
2019
Solo Show.
Steenokkerzeel, Belgium. November 19th, 2019.
Live Painting Performance in collaboration with Operation Mobilization,
Zaventem, Belgium. November 6th / May 24th / January 23rd.
Mural for NewLife Steenokkerzeel.
100 sq ft.
Steenokkerzeel, Belgium. October 2019.
Live Painting Performance in collaboration with OM Arts Collective.
Brussels, Belgium. September 28th, 2019.
Operation Mobilization LAMP Book Cover.
Steenokkerzeel, Belgium. September 2019.
Live Painting Performance in collaboration with TeenStreet Conference.
Offenburg, Germany. July 30th, 2019.
7 Last Words Group Show | OM Arts Collective.
Kessel-Lo, Belgium. April 19th, 2019.
2018
Live Painting Performance in collaboration with U-Nite Festival.
Sint-Joris-Weert, Belgium. August 26th 2018.
U-Nite Festival Group Show.
Sint-Joris-Weert, Belgium. August 23rd - 26th 2018.
Press
Voyage ATL, Rising Stars.
July 2021.
Featured Artist in Condé Nast: House of Interiors
September Issue
United Kingdom. September, 2021.
Education
Academie Mechelen | Drawing & Printmaking
Mechelen, Belgium
OM Arts Collective
Brussels, Belgium. 2018 - 2019.