Ross Barbera

I was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1950. Although I grew up in the city, I spent my summers at my family's homes in Smithtown and Peakville, New York. It was during these summers that I discovered the world of the natural landscape, and it has been the inspiration for my art ever since. In 1975 I received my MFA in painting from Pratt Institute, and I began exhibiting my work at Razor Gallery located in SoHo, NYC.  From the early 80s to the mid 90’s I exhibited at Soghor, Leonard and Associates, Jean Lumbard Gallery, 57th Street in Manhattan, and at the Clark Whitney Gallery, Lennox, Massachusetts. My awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Painting Fellowship, a New York State CAPS fellowship in painting, a grant from the Hillwood Art Museum, Long Island University, C.W. Post College, and numerous awards from juried art exhibitions. My most recent awards include "Best in Show" at "Setauket Artists 39th Annual Exhibition in 2019, and “Best in Show” at "The Atelier’s 3rd Annual Invitational Exhibition," 2021, Atelier Hall, St. James, New York

From 1990 through 2020, I was a full-time faculty member of St. John’s University teaching in the Department of Art and Design and served as the department's chairperson from 2010 through 2013. I retired from St. John’s University in 2020 as an Associate Professor.