Barbara Downs

Born in Virginia, Barbara Downs now lives in Santa Cruz, California. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Santa Cruz in studio art, focusing on traditional lithography on limestone.

During this time, she made her living as a draftsperson, doing electro-mechanical drawings on vellum, and later in AutoCAD.  Among other jobs, she did mechanical design and drafting for an early private rocket company. Her drafting background exerts an ongoing influence in her art, in ways both mundane and profound.

When her daughter was born with serious and ongoing medical conditions, Barbara’s appreciation of life’s mysteries was greatly enriched; eventually she was able to turn her attention towards the inward experience created by such trauma and redemption.

Barbara’s art now spans multiple mediums including painting, drawing, encaustic and sculpture.  She has shown regionally, nationally and internationally.  Her work is included in various corporate and private collections.

B.A., Studio Art, UCSC, Santa Cruz CA, 1985
Undergraduate studies, University of Redlands, Redlands CA

Out of the Fire, Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, Watsonville, CA, 2023

Passages: Susana Arias & Barbara Downs, Curated by the Sea, Santa Cruz, CA, 2023

Personal Structures — Reflections, invitational, curated by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) in the context of the 59th Venice Biennale, Palazzo Mora, Venice, Italy, summer 2022

this is now. A tri-gallery exhibit of the Visual Arts Network, Radius Gallery, Curators’ Pick award, and 3-day exhibit of award-winners, Curated by the Sea Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, 2022

Rydell Fellowship Nomination, 2021

20/20 Vision - Seeing Ourselves Through Challenging Times, Cabrillo Gallery, Aptos, CA, 2021

450 Pieces, R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, 2021

Personal Structures, invitational, curated by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) in the context of the 58th Venice Biennale, Palazzo Mora, Venice, Italy, summer 2019

Yuma Art Symposium: The Show, Artist Lecture and Demo, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ, 2019

A Figurative Affair, R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012

de/re/construct, Jeff King & Co., San Francisco, CA, 2018

Sculpture Is: In the Garden, Sierra Azul Nursery, Watsonville, CA, 2018

stARTup Fair LA, Hollywood, CA, 2017

Art in the Arboretum: Color, ...