Location: United States
J. Barry Motes is a Professor of Art at Jefferson Community & Technical College in Louisville, Kentucky. Motes received BA and MA degrees in art from Morehead State University and an MFA in painting/drawing from the University of Tennessee.
Motes has held 45 one or two-person shows and participated in more than 140 group and juried exhibitions, including national competitions the Valdosta National, LaGrange National Biennial, Texas National, the Red Clay Survey and was the only American included in the international exhibit Fraternity and Aesthetics in World Art in Istanbul, Turkey.
He has received 28 grants and awards, including Best in Show at the Bluegrass Biennial, the Schrodt Award for Excellence at the Water Tower Regional and an Al Smith Visual Artist Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council.
The Sacred Stories paintings are reimagined Bible stories and parables with friends, family and students as the main characters. They are painted in contemporary settings with surrealistic elements to accentuate the mystery of God’s interaction with His creation. By using traditional painting techniques, I strive to create believable images with symbolic meaning and psychological resonance.
“Annunciation”
“Sibling Rivalry (Cain & Abel)”
“Midnight in the Garden”
“Supper at Yummaus”
“American Cuisine”
“American Patriot”
“Breakfast of Champions”
“Pap's Tools”
“Mom's Ice Cream”
