Barney Levitt was raised in Upstate New York in the Adirondacks where he developed a keen appreciation for nature. As a child, drawing seemed as natural and necessary as breathing. Hopefully he will continue to do both for a long time to come.

Barney studied under Robert Sullins and received his B.A. in studio art from S.U.N.Y. at Oswego. He’s been a member of The Copley Society since 2004 and received Copley Artist designation in May 2006.

Artist’s Statement:
I’ve always been drawn to detail and it’s the realist painters who have been the source of my inspiration, from the Dutch Masters to contemporary painters including Stone Roberts, Scott Pryor, Scott Fraser and Gregory Gillespie.

I’ve often been called a bit twisted due to my rather warped brand of humor and it’s this sensibility that often shows in my paintings. Everyday objects are subjected to torturous manipulations at my hands, though sometimes I behave and go the more traditional route. I like to create a narrative that will take mundane objects and scenes, and give new meaning to their ordinariness. Symbolism plays strongly in my work. My paintings are the result of combining photographic references, direct observation, and imagination. I strive to create a sense of mystery or humor from seemingly disparate objects. There is an overall symmetry to my work though I like to create tension with precariously balanced objects suggesting the potential for motion or change.

Awards:
2007 Artist of the Month for June, American Artist Magazine
2006 Mass. Audubon Society, Best in Show