More Than Black or White Painting

I wear black, it represents everything that is me--mysterious, deep, a survivor, determined, and always searching for new caves to explore. I am, however, a very colorful character and full of the passion of red, the energy and zaniness of orange, the serenity of green, and the warmth of yellow. All of these colors and influences are in my painting and symbolize periods of my life. Born of Creole heritage and raised on a military base in Dugway, Utah, I experienced the depth and breath of life early on. By eighteen I had traveled to most of the United States. We frequented Canada as well. My travels continued as an adult to Mexico, Italy, France, England and other places around the world. I received my BFA from Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana and studied art under the late McArthur Genius Recipient, John T. Scott. I also took courses in art history at Wellesley College in Wellesley. By twenty I was showing my art professionally as B. Kendall, my maiden name. I decided to continue to sign my work as B. Kendall even though my legal name is now Barbara Kendall Reed. My art has been exhibited at Stella Jones Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana; Clay Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; Kathryn Coleman Gallery in Houston, Texas; Hammond House Museum, in Atlanta, Georgia and the Swan Coach House Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. I am currently in numerous private art collections as well as Robert W. Woodruff Library, and Clark Atlanta Museum--Trevor Arnett Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. I am at peace with myself because I am an artist and that is as good as it gets. I not only paint but write poetry, song lyrics, plays and more. I have completed my first book of 86 original works of art and 128 reflective poems called Life iz Colorful. The book is available at: I am currently working on my second book of art and poetry called Messages from a Butterfly--Humanity. This book is dedicated to transformation and is spoken both through my voice and the observations of a butterfly. It's filled with short stories, poems, original art, illustrations and amazing stories of what some of my friends are doing to add to global humanity. The book is schedule to be completed in 2020.