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Robert Barry

Robert Barry Untitled 2018 Acrylic on canvas in eight parts

Each panel: 12 x 12 inches (30.5 x 30.5 cm)
Installation dimensions are variable
Signed and dated “RB-18”, notated with panel number, all bottom center verso
(Inventory #30134)

Robert Barry has created a work in eight parts. Each element has a defined orientation. As to how they are arranged, eight coins are tossed onto a surface with the same proportions as the wall the work is to be installed upon. Following the chance resting place of each of 8 coins, the eight panels are correspondingly installed on the wall.

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Selected Works

Robert Barry Untitled 2016 Etched blue glass mirror in two parts

Etched blue glass mirror in two parts
Square: 36 x 36 inches (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
Circle: 36″ diameter (91.4 cm)
Signed and dated on accompanied certificate
(Inventory #28089)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2016 Etched purple glass mirror

48 x 48 inches (121.9 x 121.9 cm)
Signed and dated on accompanied certificate
(Inventory #28164)

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Robert Barry Red Cross (Painting) 2008 Acrylic on canvas

70 x 70 inches (177.8 x 177.8 cm)
(Inventory #26675)

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Robert Barry Untitled 1990 Acrylic, gesso and colored pencil on paper with deckled edge

Image/paper size: 36 x 36 inches (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
Frame size: 40 1/4 x 40 1/4 inches (102.2 x 102.2 cm)
Signed and dated on reverse
(Inventory #29647)

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Robert Barry Untitled 1992 Colored pencil with gesso on paper with deckled edge

Image/paper size: 41 1/8 x 26 1/8 inches (104.5 x 66.4 cm)
Signed and dated on reverse
(Inventory #29661)

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Robert Barry Untitled 1997 Acrylic and ink on paper with deckled edge mounted to board

Image/paper size: 30 1/4 x 30 1/4 inches (76.8 x 76.8 cm)
Signed and dated on reverse
(Inventory #29659)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2013 Acrylic on paper

Signed ‘R.Barry’ and dated on reverse
Image/paper size: 40 x 26 1/2 inches (101.6 x 67.3 cm)
(Inventory #26262)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2013 Colored pencil with graphite on paper

Signed ‘R.Barry’ and dated on reverse
Image/paper size: 40 x 26 1/4 inches (101.6 x 66.7 cm)
(Inventory #26263)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2019 Etched black glass mirror in nine parts

12 x 12 x 1 inches each (30.5 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm each)
Installation arrangement and installation dimensions are variable
Edition of 15
Signed and numbered on accompanying certificate
(Inventory #30391)

Exhibited September 21, 2019 – November 2, 2019

Read more about this work here

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Robert Barry INCOMPLETE… 2014 Acrylic and graphite on paper

Signed ‘RB’ and dated on reverse
Image/paper size: 30 1/8 x 22 1/8 inches (76.5 x 56.2 cm)
(Inventory #26261)

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Robert Barry INCOMPLETE… 2016 Acrylic on paper

Image/paper size: 22 1/2 x 29 15/16 inches (57.2 x 76 cm)
Signed and dated on reverse
(Inventory #29660)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2013 Metalic decal and graphite on paper

Signed ‘R.Barry’ and dated on reverse
Image/paper size: 30 1/8 x 22 1/8 inches (76.5 x 56.2 cm)
(Inventory #26260)

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Robert Barry Turquoise Mirrorpiece 2020 Enameled and etched glass

Edition of 15
30 x 30 inches (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
Signed and numbered
(Inventory #31686)

Known as one of the founders of Conceptual Art, Robert Barry, in the 1960’s and 1970’s explored sound waves, barely visible string, releasing inert gas into the atmosphere and announcing that exhibitions would be closed. The projects engaged issues of audience involvement, perception, spatial relationships and art world structures. Early on, Barry used written language as art, counter-point and explanation for his work. The use of language soon became his ‘signature’ medium. Barry’s works are, in one sense, austere. Clean words and surfaces provide visual allure. Reading the chosen words provides an opportunity to get into the works and to better “read” the art. However, no defined references exist in the works. One must be willing to question and explore the potential connections, both for the artist, but more so for the viewer. Each of the formal decisions Barry makes provides opportunities for more specific readings of the work, yet there is no one narrative or reference to be made. How the artist makes work that is powerful to look at, captivating to read in their specificity, introspective to explore and yet wide open, is a big part of why the work is so strong.

In the brand new “Turquoise Mirrorpiece”, Barry has dispersed words across, over and beyond the surface. The arrangements, juxtapositions, and proximities of the words give further opportunity not only to read the words but to read INTO the words, so as to think about what the relationships may be. The smooth quality of the glass reflects imagery and colors in the space, as well as reversing, repeating and spotlighting various elements of the room. How much is on purpose and how much is open to chance is forever unknown. The known, the unknown and the grey area between are key to equally examine in Barry’s work. In order to do this, one must also equally examine the general, the personal and the universal.

Barry’s first solo museum exhibition was in 1971 at The Tate in London and over the years he has proceeded to have solo exhibitions at the Stedelijk in Amsterdam, the Folkwangmuseum Essen in Germany, the former Museum of Conceptual Art in San Francisco, the Musée St. Pierre, Art Contemporain in Lyon, France, the Haags Gemeentemuseum in Den Haag, Netherlands, the Dum Umeni Brno in the Czech Republic, and the Kunsthalle Nurnberg among others. Group exhibitions with Barry’s work have taken place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Seattle Art Museum, Jewish Museum, Kyoto Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Modern Art in New York, among hundreds of others. His works are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Panza Collection, Varese, Ludwig Collection, Cologne, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., Musee National d’Art Moderne, Centre George Pompidou, Paris, Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Museum für Monderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany, Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Los Angeles, and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, among many others.

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Robert Barry Blue Mirrorpiece 2017 Etched blue mirrorred glass

30 x 30 inches (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
Edition of 10
Signed and numbered on label on reverse
(Inventory #28963)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2018 Etched black mirror in two parts

Installation dimensions are variable: either 18 x 54 inches (45.7 x 137.2 cm) or 18 x 63 inches (45.7 x 160 cm)
each panel: 18 x 18 inches (45.7 x 45.7 cm) (spacing between panels is either 18 inches [45.7 cm] or 27 inches [68.6 cm]
Edition of 10
Signed and numbered on accompanying certificate
(Inventory #30009)

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Robert Barry Untitled 1990 Black gesso and colored pencil on canvas

60 1/4 x 60 1/4 inches (153 x 153 cm)
(Inventory #27391)

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Robert Barry INCOMPLETE… 2014 Gold leaf on paper

Signed and dated ‘RB ’14’ on verso
Image/paper size: 11 x 8 1/2 inches (27.9 x 21.6 cm)
(Inventory #25925)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2004 Set of two mirror objects with printed text

13 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches each (35 x 35 cm each)
Edition of an unspecified number
Signed ‘RB 04’ on description sheet included in portfolio case
(Inventory #30949)

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Robert Barry THIS IS… 2018 Set of four silkscreens on Steinbach paper

Image/paper size: 26 3/4 x 19 5/8 inches each (68 x 50 cm each)
Overall size: 26 3/4 x 78 3/4 inches (68 x 200 cm)
Edition of 20
Signed and numbered
(Inventory #29502)

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Robert Barry SOMETHING THAT IS NOT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE… 2013 Set of eight offset prints on multi-offset paper

Image/paper size: 11 5/8 x 8 1/4inches each (29.7 x 21 cm each)
Edition of 40
Signed and numbered on colophon
(Inventory #25579)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2013 Digital print on 100% silk

Edition of 12
Signed and numbered
25 1/2 x 35 3/8 inches
(65 x 90 cm)
(Inventory #25580)

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Robert Barry Untitled 2014 Metallic decal on wall

Signed and dated on accompanying certificate
Installation size variable
(Inventory #26309)

Robert Barry
Barbara Krakow Gallery
Exhibited: May – June 2014

Read more about this work and its exhibition here

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Robert Barry Exhibition Views

Robert Barry
May 3, 2014 – June 14, 2014, Barbara Krakow Gallery

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