Barbara Freund

I believe that art speaks a universal language...of shared experiences. It provides a reminder of what we hold dear.

I am a Southern California artist painting the beautiful outdoors as enjoyed by so many. Particularly drawn to landscapes that encourage connections with outdoor activities and which foster an appreciation for the preservation of open spaces and public land, I focus much of my painting in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Primarily a plein-air painter, I paint directly from nature, observing the ever changing light of day. I also use my plein air works and supporting reference photos as the basis for larger scale works. I have exhibited in both group and solo venues, including, most recently, La Galleria Gitana, Malibu City Hall, and the Santa Paula Art Museum. My paintings are in private collections in Boston, Los Angeles, Malibu, Hermosa Beach, Pasadena, San Diego and Montana.
I am a member of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and co-chair their paintout committee.

I donate funds through the sales of my paintings to support wildlife and domestic animal rescue groups.

My formal education is in science and healthcare ( Bachelor and Master's degrees in Nursing and PhD in Health Services). I am largely a self-taught artist and have taken lessons and workshops from such notable artists as Ken Auster, Frank Serrano, Elena Roche, Randall Sexton, and Debra Huse.

Recent Juried Events/Awards:

July 2025
Juried Artist
"Celebrating Nature" Exhibit
Santa Paula Art Museum
Santa Paula, California
"Bu Lagoon"

May 2025
Juried Artist
32nd Annual Carmel Art Festival
Carmel, California

September 2024:
Best Art Depicting Today's American West
"21st Century Chuckwagon"
Slopoke Fine Art of the West- Exhibition/ Award sponsored by SouthWest Art Magazine

July 2024
Juried Artist
"Tale of a Seaside Town" Exhibit
Malibu Arts Commission/ Malibu City Gallery
"Walled Up"

February 2023
Juried Artist, 19th Annual Best of Plein Air
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
Laguna Beach, California
"Late Afternoon at Bluffs Park"

May 2020:
Crystal Award of Merit, "A Friend at Hand"
Bright Spirits Exhibit, Gallery Ring Online Art Gallery

March 2020:
Honorable Mention, "Sunset at Malibu Lagoon Tide Pool" Fusion Art International Juried Quarterly Exhibit "Sunrises and Sunsets"

November 2019:
Emerald Award, "Moody Blues" Gallery Ring Online Art Gallery


October 2019:
Finalist, "Father's Day Surf" Fusion Art Gallery, Figures and Faces Exhibit

Finalist, "Marine Layer Over Point Dume"
Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, Landscapes Exhibit

Special Merit Award, "The Light of an Ordinary Day" Light Space and Time Onlin...