The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
2024 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition
Barbara Martin
Bio
After a fifteen-year stint as a graphic designer in both New York City and Dayton, Ohio, Barbara changed careers and became a teacher. She used her design background in the classroom, while teaching students with special needs and, later, taught elementary art. After a long, successful teaching career, Barbara retired and moved to Northeast, Ohio. She now works full-time in her studio in a variety of media, from conceptual collage and assemblage to realistic scratchboard “portraits” of birds.
Barbara has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in painting and a master’s degree (MEd) in education. She also held National Board Certification in art K-8. Barbara has won many awards, both for her teaching and her original artwork. Her art has been exhibited in numerous galleries in the Cleveland and Dayton areas and can be found in collections throughout the United States.
Artist Statement
I often work in assemblage and collage which lends itself well to expressing concerns about social ills. Gun violence, drug addiction, environmental pollutants, and war are all topics that concern me. On the other hand, I explore the human relationship to nature by rendering birds in scratchboard. The birds often wear crowns and are meant to be humorous, but also to remind us of the reverence we pay to royalty and those in our society deemed worthy of a “portrait”. Like my assemblages, they highlight how “turned around” our society has become, worshiping celebrities while ignoring what’s left of the beauty around us.