Grant Barnhart

Grant Barnhart uses his current work to assert the belief that America’s legendary status as liberator and military superpower are in the midst of a precipitous decline and harrowing collapse. His paintings depict American archetypes of masculinity, specifically Midwest cultural icons and their female counterparts. These symbols of American glory have been removed from their natural habitats and placed in awkward, often comical juxtapositions, which are saturated with our national colors. Grant’s work has been exhibited at the OKOK Gallery in Seattle in addition to numerous group shows across the United States. He was educated at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 2000.

As part of his Fellowship’s Meet the Artist requirements, Grant met with students at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma to discuss being a working artist. He talked about his background and formal education, and presented slides of his past and recent work, discussing changes in his style and content. As a professional artist for the past decade, Grant wanted to share how location and current events have inspired his work. He spoke of how crucial it has been for him to have the freedom to focus on his work, and the importance the Artist Trust Fellowship afforded him in time and materials. He felt it was important for the students to know how to seek opportunities for grant money, and passed out Artist Trust materials to demonstrate resources available to them. After the talk there was a Q&A with the students.