John Barber

Artist Biography

Nationally acclaimed American artist John M. Barber has painted art, prints and posters depicting the Chesapeake Bay and the eastern seaboard for more than two decades. Although he has also become known also for his cityscapes and architectural art, Barber is particularly fond of his maritime subjects, primarily the Chesapeake and its vanishing way of life.

We often find in his art, prints and posters the Bay's few remaining oyster dredging skipjacks and other traditional vessels, lighthouses and harbors. Calling Barber the "premier chronicler of Chesapeake Bay life,” J. Russell Jinishian, the nation's leading authority on contemporary marine art, praised the artist's technical skill and painstaking attention to detail.

"Many artists paint skipjacks,” he explained, "but John's emotive depth puts him on another level entirely. Should the skipjacks disappear, Barber's paintings will provide a valuable historical record of the waterman's era for generations to come.” Barber's art, prints and posters have been amply marked with accolades and accomplishments.

John Barber Art, Prints and Posters Collection