Sheree N Barber

Exhibition poster and photo of Sheree Barber (supplied).

Tell us a bit about yourself, Sheree.

I have a BA in Fine Art from ECU.

What does your work aim to say?

My artwork explores both abstract and figurative forms to reflect the emotional and psychological layers of everyday experience.

Who (or what) are your biggest influences?

I love Picasso, Van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo.

How has your career developed and evolved?

I first started doing tiny drawings when I was recovering from a deadly illness.

Describe your studio or workspace

At the moment I just use my home as a studio.

Describe your dream project

I would like to eventually paint some big graffitti work out in the public.

What is the best piece of advice you've received?

Just don't judge your work too soon. Ive been ready to throw a painting in the bin but someone has liked it a lot.

How do you overcome creative blocks?

Change of pace, get out and walk, watch a movie, start an image but not judge it, judge it later.

How do you stay motivated in your art practice?

I normally have no problem. If I do have some days which are unproductive, I know it will change.

How do you balance your personal life and your art practice?

Not always expert at that. Sometimes art and creativity is all consuming, other things slide for a time.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

I'm just grateful I've been given the wonderful opportunity, thanks to IAH.

Artist's statement: This exhibition began as something very different. Initially, I had planned to focus on overtly political themes - a reflection on social repression and rising authoritarianism. But life intervened.

As I developed cataracts in both eyes, my vision changed drastically. And so did the work. Due to my current visual impairment, I’ve loosely based this exhibition on my personal experience with cataracts.

Using my own original digital artworks - created before my sight was affected - I now present them through a new lens: that of distortion, obstruction, and altered perception.

While I had intended to paint over the images to depict the effects of cataracts directly, time and physical limitations redirected my approach.

The works stand on their own, yet carry this layered meaning. The fog, the light shards, the obscured clarity - all represent what it feels like to see the world through compromised eyes.

At the same time, these visual shifts also act as metaphors for the broader societal blind spots I had originally hoped to critique. In this way, the personal and the political quietly overlap.

This exhibition is about resilience, reframing, and learning to see differently - both literally and symbolically.

Connect with Sheree:

Website: https://shereenbarber.com

Instagram: @shereenbarber