ELIZABETH BARTON was born in York, England, obtained a Ph.D and emigrated to the USA. Whilst working in the health service at the University of Georgia, she began to make quilts, focusing on Art Quilts with the encouragement of an NEA grant and acceptance into the renowned Quilt National Art Show at an early stage of her career.
Elizabeth Barton makes wall hangings from layers of cloth that she has painted or dyed, cut into pieces and reassembled. It’s like painting with fabric, the benefit of the fabric being that if you don’t like it in one place, you can move it to another. The imagery she depicts is related to places she has seen. She wishes to explore the beauty of everyday environments both cityscapes, industrial and rural landscapes. I want to create a sense of place but also reveal the dynamic bones of the scene. She enjoys working in series. Reflected light, translucency and the effects of time are recurring themes; repeated patterns of natural or architectural forms are a leifmotif. The aim is to make work that glows with light and is rich with color and nuance; a work in which the unified composition is satisfying, but the details are fascinating.
