ABOUT THE ARTIST

 

Barbara Kendall Reed, (aka B. Kendall) is an accomplished artist for over 35 years. Barbara’s work has been showcased in galleries and are part of many private collections. Her style spans an eclectic range from explosive, colorful, whimsical energy to somber shades of black, often incorporating graphics and words to communicate heavier messages. Her contrasting styles are consistent with Barbara’s diverse background.

B. Kendall was born of Creole heritage in New Orleans, Louisiana and was reared on a military base, along with her three siblings, in Dugway, Utah. Barbara was exposed to diverse and eclectic environments from childhood on… By eighteen, her travels covered the United States in addition to Canada with her family. The rest of the world was brought to her through military friendships and her extensive travels as an adult.

After high school graduation, she returned to New Orleans to attend Xavier University, where she earned a BFA degree while studying under the late McArthur Genius Award recipient, John T. Scott. She also studied art history at Wellesley College, Massachusetts where she received the Catherine Hughes Waddell scholarship. She did not complete her MFA but instead traded her studies for marriage and a move to Atlanta, Georgia where she would ultimately work for a division of The Coca-Cola family in the Human Resources Department. After seventeen years in the corporate world, Barbara had a good grasp of what gives her life purpose. Without hesitation she returned to her passion and training—art, and opened up her own business, Visual Images, now called Visual Images Design Studio, LLC. Thirty-five years later, Barbara is now a well-seasoned and accomplished artist. Her curiosity about life and each person’s purpose continues to expand as her need to share grows.

Her art has appeared in many publications including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Images magazine, The Story, Upscale Magazine, and Positive Images Magazine.

Her exhibitions include prominent venues such as:

. Hammond’s House Museum, Atlanta, Georgia,

. Clay Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia

. Mattress Factory Lofts, Atlanta, Georgia.

. Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, Atlanta, Georgia,

. Kathleen Coleman Gallery, Houston, Texas

. Stella Jones Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana.

B Kendall was a contributing painter on Louis Delsarte’s, 125-foot, Martin Luther King Jr’s Memorial Mural, placed at the Peace Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia. She was the creator of the 12-foot, And the Children Marched mural, poem, narrative, and video with Rev C.T. Vivian telling the story of the 1963 Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama. And the Children Marched mural is owned by the Auburn Avenue Research Library in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kendall’s art appeared in the movie Addicted. In addition, one of her paintings was selected by Governor Nathan Deal’s office, to hang at the state Capitol along with other selected artists.                                                                               

Barbara paints, writes, designs and creates in her home studio in Central Georgia where she finds the peace needed to rekindle her soul. She continues to explore the whole realm of creativity through multimedia to tell the stories she wants to share with her audiences. She recently completed her animation project where she wrote the song/lyrics, created the characters, and directed and co/produced the video. The project is available for purchase. For more information, please send inquiries to: iZistrolls@gmail.com

Web: lifeizcolorful.com