Joe Barnes has always regarded his paintings as meditations, to be experienced rather than read. His work combines the quiet concentration of meditation with a focused intensity that makes color bloom. Originally inspired to paint by living in Paris in the 50's, Barnes won quick recognition for his talent, winning the Emily Lowe Foundation award during his first year of painting. In that same year, he was offered representation at the Gordon Gallery on Fifth Avenue in New York, and was even given a Tribeca studio by his gallerist. By the early 80's, he was exhibiting extensively in Germany, as well as in other European countries and the United States.
