“The beauty of the physical world becomes a metaphor for the capacity of the spirit to reveal itself.” Ira Barkoff
Evocation of light is ever present in the romantic and experiential landscapes of Ira Barkoff. His recent works convey the spontaneity and the maturity of the artist’s hand and dedication to his life’s subject, the landscape. Reveling in nature’s glory, the artist dictates from memory and utmost confidence this familiar terrain, immortalizing the influence of light on his subject. His canvases are suffused with color and gleaming reminders of places and moments that captivate and enchant the viewer to participate in their own revelry and experience.
He continues to romanticize the common places in our own wanderings that bring solace and contemplation. His work radiates infinite warmth and resonates from the bountiful beauty that nature offers, a constant balm to the spirit that so often must navigate in a fraught and uncertain world.
Born in 1934 in Brooklyn New York, Barkoff has enjoyed a long and celebrated career. He has a BFA from Pratt University, has studied at the Art Students League with notables such as Robert Beverly Hale, and he continues to teach at the Washington Art Association. Ira’s work is in both public and private collections including several museum collections.