biography of Gertrude Russel BARRER (1921-1992)

Birth place: NYC

Addresses: Woodside, LI, NY

Profession: Painter, craftsperson

Studied: ASL; Iowa State Univ.

Exhibited: PAFA, 1947; Gal. Neuf, 1947; Artists Gal., 1947, 1951, 1956; Kootz Gal., NY, 1950; WMAA, 1951-52, 1956; BM, 1952; AIC, 1953; Brown Univ., 1954; Univ. Maine, 1956; Jessup Mem. Gal., 1956; Riverside Mus.; Washington Irving Gal., 1958; Mint Mus. Art; AFA traveling exh.; Berman/Daferner Gal., Soho, NYC, July, 1992

Member: Spiral Group; Soc. Am. Painters.

Work: Univ. Maine; Riverside (NY) Mus.

Comments: During the 1930s-40s in NYC, she was one of the so-called Indian Space painters, named for their interest in Northwest Coast tribal arts. After 1946, her linear pictographic shapes gave way to a more organic approach using biomorphic shapes and gestural brush strokes. These works, while sharing the look of Abstract Expressionist canvases, were more structural in organization.

Sources: WW59; PHF clipping file