ABOUT BARBARA

Barbara Kobylinska was born in Warsaw, Poland. She received a Master’s degree in Graphic Design and later a Master’s in Costume and Stage Design at Warsaw’s Academy of Fine Arts. Since then, she has been an art teacher; a children’s book illustrator; a poster, puppet, and stage designer; and finally a sculptor. For the last 20 years, she has worked in her Virginia Beach studio, creating large (4–6 ft.), colorful ceramic birds, bugs and flowers that mirror the natural world with an abstract, fanciful twist.

An exuberant world of plants and animals, courtesy of the fertile imagination and capable hands of Barbara Kobylinska. The pure visual pleasure of these sculptures connects us to the wondrous joy of life itself, and to the creative spirit that elevates the everyday to the extraordinary.

Peter Winant
Director of the School of Art
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Barbara Kobylinska at work in studio

In 1981, she sailed with her husband across the Atlantic and through the Caribbean’s on a small sail boat. Since then, nature has been a dominant factor that has influenced and inspired Barbara Kobylinska’s artwork. She feels and expresses her deep admiration for nature’s wonders: organic, rich forms and abundant colors in her giant flowers and bird sculptures.

Her large indoor/outdoor sculptures has been exhibited in many prestigious national art shows including SOFA WEST in Santa Fe, Chicago SOFA, US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, Loveland Sculpture Show in Colorado, ArtPrize in Michigan, as well as, permanently aboard the “Oasis of the Sea” cruise ship, North Carolina and Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Courthouse Galleries Portsmouth, Va. and various private collections throughout the country.

Barbara Kobylinska is a member of International Sculpture Center, Washington Sculptors Group, Potter’s Council and Ceramic Designers Association.


Artist’s Statement

Nature has been a dominant factor that has influenced and inspired my artwork. I feel and express my deep admiration for nature’s wonders: organic, rich forms and abundant colors in my flower, bird, bug and animal sculptures.

My artwork has been exhibited in many prestigious national art shows including SOFA WEST in Santa Fe, Chicago SOFA, US Botanic Garden in Washington, DC, Loveland Sculpture Show in Colorado, ArtPrize in Michigan, as well as, permanently aboard the “Oasis of the Sea” cruise ship, Courthouse Galleries Portsmouth, Va. The Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, VA & Warsaw, Poland, and various private collections throughout the country.

Being adventurous and inventive I am constantly looking to diversify my subjects and materials. As a result I am working now on mixed media animal series incorporating found objects and recycled metal pieces. I create my “animal kingdom” with humor and imaginative whimsy as my own interpretations of the natural world.

“Barbara Kobylinska approaches her art with both a studied sense of design and an unapologetic trust of intuition. Her artistic training and experience, has afforded her a solid understanding of structural form and language of shape, mass and proportion. Barbara Kobylinska is adventurous and inventive. With humor and a sophisticated, playful intelligence, she invites us to share her delight in the unexpected.”

Bob Donovan
Curator
Century Center Artspace
Arlington, VA

Galleries

Barbara Kobylinska is represented by the following galleries:

Zenith Gallery
1429 Iris St NW, Washington, DC 20012
(202) 783-2963
[email protected]

Objects, Art and More Gallery
4462 Irvington Road, Irvington, VA 22480
(804) 438-8024
[email protected]

Virginia Beach Art Center
532 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
[email protected]

Lemon Tree Gallery and Studio
301 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles, VA 23310

Beach Gallery
313 Laskin Road #104, Virginia Beach, VA 23451


SOLO EXHIBITIONS, COMMISSIONS, COLLECTIONS & PUBLIC ART

2002–2023

  • “Beast, Bugs and Botanicals” Exhibition, Sandler Center Art Gallery, Va. Beach, VA
  • Installation of “Stargazer” sculpture Healing Garden at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center, Norfolk, VA
  • Installation of “Flying Pterosaur” sculpture Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA
  • “Floral Orb”, 809 Gallery, CVUUC, Norfolk, VA
  • “Imaginary Creatures”
    Perry Glass Wheel Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • “Wild and Colorful World of Barbara Kobylinska”
    Piedmont Arts, Martinsville, VA  
  • “Spring Blooming and Buzzing”
    Lemon Tree Gallery, Cape Charles, VA
  • “Figments and Fragments”
    Sandler Center Art Gallery, Va. Beach, VA
  • Installation of three bird sculptures
    Botanical Garden UW, Warsaw, Poland
  • The Art & Garden Event
    Williamsburg, VA
  • Sculptures in the Garden
    North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, NC
  • Williamsburg Arts District Sculpture Exhibit
    Williamsburg, VA
  • 2016 Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center
  • Solo Exhibition: “Creatures Big and Small”
    Museum of Sopot, Poland
  • Solo Exhibition: “Creatures Big and Small”
    Warsaw, Poland
  • Peninsula Fine Art Center
    Newport News, VA
  • Century Center Art Space
    Arlington, VA
  • Individual Show at The Corporate Office
    1600 Tyson Blvd, McLean, VA
  • Installation of “Sprouting Bud” Sculpture
    City of Green River, Wyoming
  • Installation of “Wild Thing” sculpture
    Children’s Museum, Portsmouth, VA
  • Installation of “Leaves” series
    Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grands Rapids, MI
  • Individual Show at The Corporate Office Centre at Tysons II
    McLean, VA
  • Solo Exhibition “Sculpture 1275”
    1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 
  • Private Collection of Large Bird Sculptures
    “Oasis of the Sea” cruise ship
  • Summer Public Art Program
    Point Park Garage, Norfolk. VA
  • The Sandler Center for Performing Arts
    Town Center in Virginia Beach, VA
  • Individual Sculpture Show
    Phoebus Art Gallery, Hampton, VA
  • Courthouse Galleries Collection
    Portsmouth, VA
  • Norfolk Botanical Garden Collection
    Norfolk, VA
  • Various Private Collections
    Virginia
  • Hudson Bay Gallery
    Virginia Beach, VA 
  • Individual Exhibition
    Phillips Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Individual Exhibition
    Artemis Gallery, Richmond, VA
  • Sculpture Exhibition
    Cristallo Gallery, Williamsburg, VA           
  • Individual Exhibition
    Riverview Gallery, Portsmouth, VA
  • Individual Exhibition
    Atrium Gallery, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Individual Exhibition of Flower Sculptures
    Town Bank Pavilion Center, Virginia Beach, VA

EXHIBITIONS

 2023

  • 13th Annual Workhouse Clay International, Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA
  • “Solid Ground” Ceramic Design Association Show, Portsmouth Art Center, VA
  • “Re-Art” exhibit Suffolk Art Gallery, Suffolk, VA
  • Animal show gallery atCentral Library, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “45th Anniversary Exhibition” Zenith Gallery, Washington DC
  •  “What’s NewVirginia Beach Art Center, VA
  • “The Painted Garden”, Beach Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  •  “Show Off”, Virginia Beach Art Center, VA

2022

  • “Artist Showcase” D”Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • “The Zeitgeist of Zenith” Zenith Gallery, Washington DC
  • “A Tribute to Peace” Suffolk Center for Cultural Art’s Galleries, VA
  • “Harvest the Art” Beach Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “What’s New?” Artist Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “Sculptural Exhibition” Watergate Gallery, Washington DC

2021

  • “Women Sculptures Bringing Balance with Humor” Zenith Gallery, Washington DC
  • “ Handcrafted” Maria V. Howard Art Center, Rocky Mount, VA
  • “The Search for Harmony and Balance” Watergate Gallery, Washington DC
  • D’Art Center installation Hilton the Main, Norfolk, VA
  • Visual to Verbal “Capricious Whimsy” Suffolk Art Gallery, VA

2020

  • Group show
    21st Gallery, Norfolk, VA
  • Outdoor Sculpture
    Portsmouth Art Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA
  • Hampton Arts League Members Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA

2019

  • “That’s Funny”
    The CharlesTaylor Visual Arts Center, Hampton, VA
  • “Fire, Form, and Function” CDA Exhibit
    Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Suffolk, VA
  • “Earth Devised” National exhibition
    D”Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • “Horizon: As Above, So Below”
    Portsmouth Art Cultural Center,Portsmouth, VA
  • Naples Downtown Art Show
    Naples, Fl
  • Vero Beach Art Club
    Vero Beach, FL
  • 3 Artists Show
    21st Gallery, Norfolk, VA

2018

  • Master Works Exhibition
    Art Center, Smithfield, VA.
  • Ceramic Designers Association show
    Albermarle Gallery, Elizabeth City, NC
  • Animal Show
    Objects Gallery, Irvington, VA
  • Artists Who Teach Show 2018
    Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA 
  • 2018 Outdoor Sculpture
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, VA
  • American Craft Council Show
    Sarasota, FL

2017

  • American Craft Council Show
    Baltimore, MD
  • “From the Earth”  CDA Show
    D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • TAA Portfolio Art Exhibit
    Suffolk Art Museum, Suffolk, VA
  • Pavilion Exhibition 2017
    Towne Pavilion 1, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Artists Who Teach Show 2017
    Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA
  • Dream House 2017 Show
    Peninsula Arts Center, Newport News, VA
  • 2017 Rawls Museum Arts National Juried Exhibition
    Courtland, VA

2016

  • Art Festival Beth-El
    St. Petersburg, FL
  • 2016 American Craft Council show
    Baltimore, VA
  • Outdoor Sculpture 2016
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, VA
  • “Form” Invitational Show
    D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • Group show
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
  • Art show
    BB Gallery, Krakow, Poland 

2015

  • 52nd Annual Art on the Square Show
    Williamsburg, VA
  • From this Earth: Ceramic Art in Virginia Exhibit
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA
  • Stockley Gardens Show
    Norfolk, VA
  • Earth, Ware & Fire
    Artists Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Virginia Artists 2015 Juried Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA

2014

  • American Craft Council Show
    Baltimore, MD
  • Outdoor Sculpture 2014
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, VA
  • “Louloudi Show”
    Athenaeum, Alexandria, VA 
  • “Creatures Big and Small”
    Gdansk, Poland
  • Group Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA

2013

  • Greater Reston Arts Center
    Reston, VA
  • Peninsula Fine Art Center
    Newport News, VA
  • International Ceramic Forum,
    Polish Center for Sculpture, Oronsko, Poland
  • “25 Years Anniversary Show
    Watergate Gallery, Washington DC

2012

  • “Visions in Clay”
    Courthouse Galleries of the Portsmouth Museums, VA
  • Outdoor Sculpture 2012
    Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, VA
  • International Ceramic Forum
    Polish Center for Sculpture, Oronsko, Poland

2011

  • “Fantascapes
    Richard Stravitz Sculpture Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “Assemblage, Collage and Mix Media”
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA 
  • Ceramic Designers Association Show
    Neil Britton Art Gallery 051, Va. Beach, VA
  • “2011 Summer Sculpture Show
    Watergate Gallery, Washington DC
  • “Bird Art Exhibit”
    2011 Historic Garden Week, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “The Art of Saving a River”
    Towne Bank, Virginia Beach, VA

2010 

  • ArtPrize” Show
    Grand Rapids, MI
  • 19th Loveland Sculpture Show
    Loveland, CO
  • “Outdoor Sculpture 2010”
    Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
  • 1275 Sculpture Show
    1275 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC

2009

  • 16th Sofa Chicago 2009
    Maria Elena Kravetz Gallery, Cordoba, Argentina
    Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
  • Small Works Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
    (2nd Place in Sculpture)
  • 5th Annual Art and Sculpture Festival
    Newport News, VA
    (Award of Excellence in Sculpture)
  • Installation of 3 Flower Sculptures
    Town Center, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Sofa West
    Maria Elena Kravetz Gallery, Cordoba, Argentina
    Santa Fe Convention Center, Santa Fe, NM
  • Flora: Growing inspirations
    US Botanic Garden, Washington, DC 
  • Vox Humana: Canvas, Paper and Sculpture Show
    Hampton University, Hampton, VA

2008

  • Art Exhibit
    Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
  • Small Works Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
  • Thrown, Carved, and Fired Show
    Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
  • Grovewood Gallery Sculpture Exhibition
    Asheville, NC
  • Seven Cities Sculpture Show
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
  • Outdoor Sculpture 2008
    Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA

2007

  • New Gallery Grand Opening
    ArtLink LLC, Virginia Beach, VA
  • “Afterlife: Cross-Cultural Artworks and Altars Celebrating the Spirit Thereafter” Invitational Exhibition
    Charles H. Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA
  • “Chroma” Show
    Visual Arts Center, Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, VA
  • Earth, Water & Fire”Ceramic Art Show
    Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
  • Annual Faculty Show
    Contemporary Art Center of Virginia,Virginia Beach, VA

2006

  • Boardwalk Art Show
    Virginia Beach, VA
  • “Outdoor Sculpture 2006”
    Courthouse Galleries, Portsmouth, VA
  • Virginia Flower & Garden Show “Magical Garden”
    Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Annual Faculty Show
    Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA

2005

  • 2005 Annual Juried Exhibition
    Suffolk Museum, Suffolk, VA
  • Summer Invitational Art Exhibit
    D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
  • Hyattstown Mill Arts Project
    Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Hyattstown, MD
  • “Spotlight 2005”
    The Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, University of NC- Asheville Kellogg Center, Asheville, NC
  • “Rouge” Juried Exhibition of Love
    Indigo Contemporary Art Gallery, Norfolk, VA

2004

  • 2004 Tri-State Members’ Show
    Winston-Salem, NC
  • Sculpture Vision 2004 Exhibition
    Chapel Hill, NC     
  • Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit
    Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Concord, NH       
  • “Flora: Of, By, and About Plants”
    Shooting Star Gallery, Suffolk, VA
  • “Eclectic Eccentric”
    Rawls Museum of Arts, Courtland, VA
  • “Flora: Sculptures of the Natural World”
    U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, DC         
  • Sculpture Garden Exhibit
    Pemberton, NJ
  • Peninsula Fine Arts Center Biennial Juried Show
    Newport News, VA

2003

  • New Hope Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
    New Hope, PA
  • “Sizing it Up: Miniature to Monumental”
    Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA      
  • “New Waves” Juried Show
    Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA 
  • Sculpture Garden Exhibit
    Pemberton, NJ
  • 2003 “The Art Market” Show
    Virginia’s Outdoor Gallery, Hampton, VA

2002

  • The Hand Workshop Art Center Craft and Design Show
    Richmond, VA
  • Peninsula Fine Arts Center Biennial Juried Show
    Newport News, VA
  • 2002 “The Art Market” Show
    Virginia’s Outdoor Gallery, Hampton, VA
  • “Creative Clay-Outstanding Form” Show
    The Collage Arts Center, Smithfield, VA

Contact

If you have questions about purchases, available pieces, shows, galleries, or anything else, please use the form here to contact me directly. If you are in Virginia Beach, VA and would like to visit my studio, please contact me to make an appointment.

[email protected]

Barbara Kobylinska at The Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center show opening in 2019.

Galleries

Objects, Art and More Gallery
4462 Irvington Road, Irvington, VA 22480
(804) 438-8024
[email protected]

Virginia Beach Art Center
532 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451
[email protected]

Lemon Tree Gallery and Studio
301 Mason Ave., Cape Charles, VA 23310

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