Barry Snyder

"Barry Snyder is one of those rare creative people who not only is highly accomplished as an artist, but also has had a positive impact on the community where he lives. Barry has taken an active interest in promoting the work of other artists, has been a leader in raising public awareness about the visually impaired, and has done much to encourage the creativity of children."
-Brian H. Peterson

Sculptor Barry Snyder transformed everyday objects into works of art. He was also a painter and a photographer. Snyder began his exploration of "found objects" by sketching them and creating collages; these works then evolved into sculptures. His first sculpture was made of an eggbeater, wire mesh, and paint. Initially his work was heavily influenced by primitive art, often resembling masks, animals, totems, figures and other primitive objects. In his later works, Snyder became more conscious of refined and graceful compositions inspired by oriental design and Zen thought. Characterized by both humor and intense feeling, his sculptures often incorporate unusual materials including delicate branches, old tools, vines, metal objects, rubber tubing, antiques, fabric, etc.

Snyder exhibited locally at the Phillips' Mill Annual Art Exhibitions, Elllarslie Trenton City Museum, the Michener Art Museum, the Hunterdon Art Center, and many other venues.

Education and Training
Tyler School of Fine Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Parsons School of Design, New York, New York
Trenton School of Industrial Arts, Trenton, New Jersey

Teachers and Influences
George Bradshaw, Martha Zelt, Gregorio Prestopino
Influenced by primitive arts, the Dada Movement (Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp), Minimalism of Eastern Culture, Zen thought, John Cage, Joseph Cornell, Henri Matisse, Giorgio Morandi, and Chaim Soutine

Connection to Bucks County
Barry Snyder lived in Lambertville, New Jersey for almost 30 years. He taught at Bucks County Community College and the Michener Art Museum. Snyder exhibited locally in Bucks and Hunterdon Counties, and in Princeton, New Jersey.

Colleagues and Affiliations
Snyder was one of the early founders of the artist organization, Artsbridge. He was also involved with establishing an art gallery at the Lambertville Public Library, The Peggy Lewis Art Gallery.
Vincent Ceglia, Pat Martin, Tina Salveson, Paul Matthews, Jaques Fabert, Bonnie McClean, late Peggy Lewis, to name a few.

Major Solo Exhibitions:
Rider College, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, 1964
Interpretations, Queenstown Gallery, Pennington, New Jersey, 1982
TAWA at Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, New Jersey, 1984
Walton Educational Center, George School, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 1985
The World of Barry Snyder, Joy Kreves Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey

Major Group Exhibitions
Bucks County Sculpture Show, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA, 1991
Primal Visions, with Tom Blatt, Curves Gallery, Bisbee, Arizona, 1991
Moments of Truth, Three Photographers, Rossi Gallery, Lambertville, NJ, 1991
Small Works Show, Arts Council of Princeton, New Jersey, 1992
Discover, Transform, Reveal, The Gallery at Mercer County Community College, Trenton, New Jersey, 1992
Phillips Mill Community Association Photography Show, New Hope, Pennsylvania, 1993
Searching Beyond the Image, with Margaret Johnson, Anne Reid Gallery, Princeton Day School, New Jersey
Double Take, with Nancy Ennis, Bryan Parent Center, Atlantic Electric, Millville, New Jersey, 1993
Inaugural Exhibition, Artsbridge, Riverrun Gallery, 1993
The Rites of Spring, TAWA at Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum
Figuratively Speaking, TAWA at Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum
Obsessions and Reflections, Artsbridge, Riverrun Gallery, Lambertville, New Jersey
Muddled Lines to High Art, Artsbridge, Artworks Gallery, Lambertville, 1994
Rabbet at Ten, Rabbet Gallery, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1994

Major Collections:
Public and private collections in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Florida, Arizona, Pennsylvania, California

Teaching and Professional Appointments:
Owner/Director, Princeton Gallery of Fine Arts, New Jersey, 1970-80
Adjunct Instructor, Bucks County Community College, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 1987-89
Curator, Inner Visions, Genest Gallery, Lambertville, 1988
Magic with Art Concepts, demonstration, Cape May County Art League, New Jersey, 1989
Art Lives, round-table discussion, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, 1991
Curator, Private Worlds, 3-Person show, Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton, New Jersey, 1992
Assistant to Arlene Smith, Anne Reid Gallery, Princeton Day School, 1992-95
Children's teacher, Artworks, Trenton, New Jersey, 1992-95
Group Discussion, Solebury School, New Hope, 1993
Gallery Talks, Michener Art Museum, 1995
Children's Spring Art Teacher, Michener Art Museum, 1996
Consultant, appraiser, juror, workshop teacher, lecturer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Curator, Layers of Time and Space, Three Person exhibition, Works on Paper, Atelier Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ, 2002
Advisor to two Estates, Charles Ward (1900-1962) and Robert Tieman (1937-1989)

Major Awards:
Honorable Mention, Member's Show, Hunterdon Art Center, 1986
Sculpture Award in Memory of Anna Sterling Roseman, Annual Art Exhibition, Phillips' Mill Community Association, 1988
Winners Four, Hunterdon Art Center, 1989
Sculpture Award in Memory of the Solebury School founders, Annual Art Exhibition, Phillips Mill Community Association, 1991
Patron's Award for Sculpture, Annual Art Exhibition, Phillips Mill Community Association, 1993
Honorable Mention, Muddled Lines to High Art, Artsbridge, Artworks, 1994

Affiliations and Memberships:
Artsbridge, Lambertville
Princeton Artist Alliance
Artists Advisory Board, Artworks, Trenton
Artists Advisory Board, Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum
Trenton Artists Workshop Association (TAWA)
Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton (1986-1993)
Princeton Artists Alliance, (1993-1994)
Artists Advisory Board, Hunterdon Art Center (1990-1993)
Artists Advisory Board, Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum