I approach each piece as an individual arena where the struggle is addressed in its own moment, from its unique angle, raising its own set of possibilities. Elements drawn from experience, memories, dreams, graphic and scientific diagrams, might be repeated between pieces but shift in scale or become veiled like memories, where they play new roles in each new context.

Rooted in my interest in collage, drawing, and sketchbooks, my process is intuitive but focused primarily on formal concerns. I work through the problem by layering and integrating disparate images and materials, moving each piece in its own direction until suggestions for new associations emerge from the process itself.

The visual tension between organic and hard-edged elements mirrors the inner conflict between emotion and reason. Reconcile depicts an uncertain space, full of potential, offering a glimpse at a moment of openness, a chance to spot the forces at play. Here, we can listen, search, and absorb before new insights take hold.

Andrea Barnes is a Washington DC area artist working in drawing, painting, and mixed media. In her abstract work, she combines found images including charts, diagrams, scientific illustrations, maps, and photographs with expressive handling of paint. Her figurative work emphasizes emotional connection while pushing scale and range of materials. Her work has won awards in regional and national juried exhibitions and is included in numerous private collections. Barnes received a B.A. in philosophy from Colgate University and studied fine art at the School of Visual Arts, New York NY and the Corcoran College of Art & Design, Washington DC. She works from her studio in Maryland.