The Artist
Born in Asheville, North Carolina in 1955, James Barnhill received his Bachelor's degree in Art Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1977. After his undergraduate work, he spent a year of study in Marburg, Germany and traveled extensively. In 1982 Barnhill received his Master on Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studying the figure under the late Peter Agostini.
He works from the live model, sculpting both fully in the round as well as in relief. Barnhill has successfully executed work for corporate, public, liturgical and garden settings.
More than a mere copy of the human body, his work seeks to marry the abstract principles of design and composition to the natural form of the figure. Barnhill's work is both engaging and inviting.
He currently teaches as an Assistant Professor of Art at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina.
View James Barnhill's Wikipedia page HERE.
Selected Commissions
May 2008
CITY OF GREENSBORO
Greensboro, NC
“General Greene”
Eleven foot sculpture of General Nathanael Greene
atop a fourteen foot granite pedestal
June 2005
SAINT THERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH
Tuckerton, NJ
“Crucifixion”
Seven foot carved wood crucifix affixed to a twelve foot cross.
May 2003
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO
Greensboro, NC
“Minerva” (Former Mascot of Women’s College)
A nine foot bronze figure for the newly renovated Elliott Center
A gift from the class of 1953
Total height including pedestal: 16’
February 2002
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY
Greensboro, NC
“February One”
Ten foot bronze figures commemorating the Woolworth sit-in and subsequent civil rights movement
Total height including pedestal: 15'
October 2001
NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY
Raleigh, NC
A one and one half times life-size double portrait bust in bronze
of Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Swalin, founders of the North Carolina Symphony
September 2001
THE SISTERS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE Pittsburgh, PA
An eight foot bronze of Mary at the wedding at Cana
September 1999
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT GREENSBORO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
DR. LUTHER SELF FELLOWSHIP FUND
Greensboro, NC
A portrait relief in bronze of Dr. Luther W. Self, proponent of higher education
August 1999
CITY OF ASHEVILLE
Asheville, NC
A portrait relief in bronze of Elisabeth Blackwell,
the first female physician in the United States
January 1999
CITY OF MONTOURSVILLE
Montoursville, PA
“Angel of Montoursville”
An eight and a half foot bronze sculpture honoring the students
and chaperones who died in the TWA Flight 800 disaster
June 1998
CITY OF HICKORY
Hickory, NC
“The Story”
Two life-size figures in bronze for the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library
October 1997
CITY OF MOUNTAIN BROOK
Mountain Brook, AL
“Civitas”
A twice life-size figure in bronze honoring the first female architect
from the state of Alabama
June 1996
MISSION HOSPITAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Mission Viejo, CA
“Christ the Healer”
Three life-size figures in bronze
January 1996
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT
Burnt Chimney, VA
Twice life-sized bronze bust for the National Park Service
July 1994
CITY OF ASHEVILLE
Asheville, NC
“Little Sipper”
A life-sized figure in bronze for Asheville’s Historical Walk
March 1991
THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL SOCIETY WITH A GIFT
FROM TIME WARNER, INC.
Birmingham, AL
“Echo”
A life-sized figure in bronze
Awards
MINISTRY AND LITURGY MAGAZINE
San Jose, California (July 2002)
Best of Show Visual Arts Award, Devotional Category
NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITION
New York, New York (September 1995)
Winner of the Leonard J. Meiselman Price for a ‘realistic sculpture done in the classical tradition’
THE JEFFERSON D. RUBIN MEMORIAL AWARD Loveland, Colorado
(August 1994)
Winner of the Rubin award
for classical sculpture
THE 14TH ANNUAL JAMES WILBUR JOHNSTON SCULPTURE COMPETITION FOR FIGURE MODELING (June 1992)
Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Lyme, Connecticut
First Place
THE 9TH ANNUAL JAMES WILBUR JOHNSTON SCULPTURE COMPETITION FOR FIGURE MODELING (June 1987)
The Corcoran
Washington, DC
First Place
Community
Involvement
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS African American Atelier (2003 – present) Greensboro, North Carolina
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS Art Alliance (1998 – 2003)
Greensboro, North Carolina
SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS Central Piedmont Region
Three Dimensional Art Juror 2001, 2002, 2003
