JOSEPH BARRETT BIOGRAPHY
Joseph Barrett was born in Midland, Carabus
County, North Carolina, in 1936. He was raised on
his maternal Grandmother's plantation," Bentiver",
in Proffit Virginia. He began his formal study of
painting at the Massachusetts College of Art in
Boston and did his thesis at the Tyler School of Art
in Philadelphia. Barrett who has been painting his
entire adult life, paints in his studio in Lahaska,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His subjects are often
of Bucks County landscapes , many of them set in
New Hope. His compositions of local landmarks
often include figures, depicting everyday life- fishing,
leisurely strolls through the village, couples walking
side by side.
Barrett's brilliant color palette and use of heavy
textural impasto is similar to that of Fern Coppedge
and George Sotter. Barrett's paintings are always
framed in unique, custom hand-carved frames
designed by the artist and finished in metal leaf. The
frames continue in the tradition of Bucks County
fame makers such as Frederick Harer, Ben Badura
and Raymond Vanselous- and are sometimes signed
on the sides of the frames with his distinctive
signature carved into the wood, sometimes allowing
the gold under-paint to show through.
Joseph Barrett carries on the tradition of his
contemporaries- of the New Hope Impressionist
School, painting every day in his Lahaska studio that
doubles as an antique shop. Here you can find
paintings in various stages of completion as well as
hundreds of well worn brushes and tubes of his
favorite colors of paint. Barrett is the last of the
living painters with direct ties to the New Hope
Impressionists- a group of distinguished artists with
roots in the Pennsylvania Impressionist School.
Born July 11, 1936, Midland, North Carolina
Education; Pfeiffer College, North Carolina: AA
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA: BFA- Painting
Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia.: MFA- Painting
Exhibitions:
Tyler School of Art; Graduate Thesis Exhibition
Philadelphia. Art Alliance; Solo Exhibition
Phillips Mill Annual Exhibition 1991, 92
Coryell Gallery Juried show, Years 1993-97 Prize in 96
Bianco Gallery Group show , Years 1993-99 Prize in 96
New Hope Arts Commission- "The New Century Show"
Years 1994 (prize), 95,96
American fine Arts gallery 95-96 Lambertville, NJ
American Fine Arts Gallery 95,96 Lambertville, NJ
Coryell Gallery Group Show 1998 Lambertville, NJ
Doylestown Art League 95 Hon Men.
Midlantic Bank Solo Exhibition 95,96 New hope and Lahaska
Durham Galley Group Exhibition 94,95
Georgetown, Washington DC
Broadmoor Gallery Group Exhibition 94-97
Lambertville Public Library Solo Exhibition "Alluvial Days" 98
PNC Bank Solo Exhibition 97,98
New Hope and Lahaska, PA
Hang Up Gallery Group Exhibition 97,98 Doylestown, PA
Graphic Arts Gallery 98 New York NY
Jim's Antiques Fine Arts Gallery, Lambertville, NJ 99-present
Frames are hand carved by Joseph Barrett and also by a
frame carver artisan under the direction of Joseph Barrett.