Far Country

I would not be surprised to find John Barnwells pictures on the walls of the Whitney Museum of American Art or the American galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. - Dr. Daniel Siedell Senior Fellow Modern Art History Theory & Criticism The Kings College New York CityFar Country is a diverse and thorough sampling of the romantic realism of artist John L. Barnwell whose work spans a prolific half century of painting in a wide variety of styles subjects and themes.John L. Barnwell was born in 1922 in Los Angeles California. He grew up during the Great Depression in Oceanside CA. In the early 1950s he moved to New York City and started to paint. He was inspired by his surroundings mid-century Manhattan and painted a body of work of just cityscapes and industry using primarily palette knives one of his signature styles. He later found his voice with surrealist and fantasy paintings experimenting over the years with a variety of styles and techniques. Over five decades Barnwells work ranged from surrealism to traditional landscapes and from fantasy to simple still lifes. But throughout all his artistic inquiry Barnwells work remained suffused with a strong visionary theme. A desire to see the world with a subtle sense of mystery and transcendence. Far Country is filled with one hundred thirteen of Barnwells paintings most of which have never been published before. It is a visual feast and represents a lifetime of artistic labor passion and dedication.