Joshua Barber (born 1977) is an American artist living and working in Richmond, Virginia.
Barber is best known for his modern icons, which he began painting in 2000 after a three-week trip to Jerusalem, Egypt and Jordan. Stylized figures on hand-weathered paper and wood, often embellished with gold leaf, recalled the religious artwork and the Dead Sea Scrolls Barber saw on his travels. Recent exhibitions of this work include the "Five Books" solo show (May 2005), consisting of 70 paintings interpreting verses from the Pentateuch of the Old Testament, and "Modern Icons," a collection of 20 paintings exhibited in a solo show at the Rainbow Café, Bristol, England (October 2007).
Barber also paints landscapes and abstract pieces distinguished by muted pastels, the use of acrylic with oil and pencil details. One of his landscapes, a depiction of the Vice PresidentâÂÂs Residence at the United States Naval Observatory, was selected as the official Vice PresidentâÂÂs 2004 holiday card.
Barber is represented by Tunnadine Fine Art in the United Kingdom, represents himself as Joshua Barber Fine Art in the United States and Richmond, Virginia.
Barber was born in Richmond, Virginia. His father is John Barber, an acclaimed maritime artist. Joshua Barber paints modern-day icons and stylized landscapes. His multimedia work marries rough, tactile lines with delicate details. JoshuaâÂÂs paintings have been exhibited in galleries in the United Kingdom, New York, Los Angeles and Richmond, as well as in the Dreweatts Urban Art Auction in London. Joshua is a board member of Art on Wheels and volunteers as an art instructor for children with cancer and their siblings through ConnorâÂÂs Heroes. Joshua Barber received his BFA cum laude in 2000 from Appalachian State University.
2018 Augustàâ àDecember: 6 East Broad Street âÂÂFirst Friday Exhibitâ àâ Richmond, VA September: Saint Francis Home, Live and Silent Auction àâÂÂàRichmond, VA
2017 February â May: âÂÂWish you were here Art Showâ â Fountain Street Fine Art Gallery â Framingham, Massachusetts January: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Art ShowàâÂÂàNorfolk, Virginia
2016 November: Comfort Zone Camp, âÂÂWith My Own Two Handsâ to benefit children of Comfort Zone CampàâÂÂàRichmond, VirginiaOctober: âÂÂArt Transforming Livesâ Child Savers group show at Glave Kocen Gallery âÂÂRichmond, Virginia October: Child Savers Permanent Collection, Child Savers Gallery âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia
2015 October: Child Savers Permanent Collection, Child Savers Gallery âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia October: âÂÂArt Transforming Livesâ Child Savers group show at Glave Kocen Gallery âÂÂRichmond, Virginia March: Comfort Zone Camp, âÂÂGrief Relief Galaâ to benefit children of Comfort Zone CampàâÂÂàRichmond, Virginia January: âÂÂThe Jerusalem Seriesâ Sara D. November GalleryàâÂÂàRichmond, Virginia
2014 December: âÂÂThe Jerusalem Seriesâ Sara D. November Gallery âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia May: âÂÂHeroes Art Ballâ benefit group show to support ConnorâÂÂs Heroes âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia March:àComfort Zone Camp, âÂÂGrief Relief Galaâ to benefit children of Comfort Zone Camp âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia January: âÂÂSmall Works Showâ group show at Glave Kocen Gallery âÂÂàRichmond, Virginia
2013 March: âÂÂCheers to Art,â Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens â Massey Auditorium â Richmond, Virginia
2012 January: âÂÂSmall Works Showâ group show at Glave Kocen Gallery â Richmond, Virginia
2011 May: âÂÂTradition with a twistâ group show at smART Gallery â Williamsburg, Virginia May: âÂÂThe Billboard Art Projectâ â Savannah, Georgia March: âÂÂCheers to Art,â Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens â Massey Auditorium â Richmond, Virginia February â June: Turchin Center for the Visual Arts â Boone, North Carolina January: âÂÂArtists Helping Artistsâ â Gallery 5800 â Richmond, Virginia
2010 November: Ballad of Nanny Fluff â London, U.K. October: Group exhibition featuring Joshua Barber, Andre Lucero and Ed Hatch â Gallery 5800 â Richmond, Virginia July: âÂÂWooden and Paper Icons,â The Arts Council of the Valley â The Smith House â Harrisonburg, Virginia April: âÂÂCheers to Art,â Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens â Massey Auditorium â Richmond, Virginia April: Dreweatts Urban Contemporary Auction â London, U.K.
2009 December: âÂÂAdventâ group show at 2 Degrees Gallery â Bristol, U.K. October: âÂÂGet Dring Mobile: Urban Art Auctionâ group show at Paintworks, Bath Road â Bristol, U.K. October: âÂÂBarber vs Barber,â a collection of 50 paintings with father and maritime artist John M. Barber at Gallery 5800 â Richmond, Virginia August: âÂÂArt in Mindâ group exhibit at the Brick Lane Gallery â London, U.K. August: âÂÂA good-old fight that stands between me and the lawâ solo exhibit at the Knifesmith Gallery â Bristol, U.K. March: âÂÂThe Inaugural Showâ group exhibit at Art Raw Gallery â New York, New York June: âÂÂThe Sketchbook Projectâ at Art House Gallery, Atlanta; Museum of Contemporary Art DC, Washington, D.C.; Laconia Gallery, Boston; Antena Gallery, Chicago; Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO; 3rd Ward, Brooklyn; Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA), Atlanta; Chicago Art Source Gallery, Chicago
2008 December: âÂÂPiazza Napoleone â Luccaâ selected for the Virginia Museum of Fine Artsâ âÂÂArt After Hoursâ invitational exhibition and auction â Richmond, Virginia November: âÂÂArt Knows No Bordersâ group exhibit and auction to benefit Doctors Without Borders â Los Angeles, California September: âÂÂArt180â³ â Richmond, Virginia
2007 October: âÂÂModern Iconsâ solo show at the Rainbow Café â Bristol, U.K. January: âÂÂAre we there yetâ selected for the Virginia Museum of Fine Artsâ âÂÂArt after Hoursâ invitational exhibition and auction â Richmond, Virginia
2006 December: Painting selected for charity auction at Art Works to benefit Art 180, a nonprofit that offers arts programs to young people living in challenging circumstances â Richmond, Virginia February: âÂÂWe walk not upon a lineâ selected for the Virginia Museum of Fine Artsâ âÂÂArt After Hoursâ invitational exhibition and auction â Richmond, Virginia January: Three paintings from âÂÂFive Booksâ awarded second place overall in a juried show at Art Works â Richmond, Virginia
2005 May: âÂÂFive Booksâ solo show held in private space â Richmond, Virginia 2003 March: âÂÂBalanceâ solo show at the Barber Gallery â Richmond, Virginia