Barbara Felix
Artist’s Statement
My new body of work, “The Glorious Way She Moves – Black Venus”, explores the fullness and depth of the female form from youthful innocence to glorious maturity. As a woman of color, I strive to address the malapropos labels placed upon my culture, race and the feminine gender. These interpretive portraits illustrate the exuberance and individuality of each muse I celebrate. I strive to emphasize the remarkable features and characteristics of Black women in every phase of womanhood.
In my process, I video record each woman dancing, then jump to the film’s individual frames, using them to help me expose and capture my subjects’ unique character and individuality. During their dance, I specifically look for the physical and expressive nuances my subjects demonstrate. I then use these individual signature movements to reveal each subjects’ esthetic. By doing this I experience a connection to their beauty without stereotyping. It is that connection I share in my work.
Biography
Barbara Felix is a contemporary figurative artist. She received her BFA in Graphic Communication at Texas State University in 1991, where her coursework fired her love of the human figure and inspired her long pursuit to work as an artist.
Felix began taking community classes at the Southwest School of Art in 2006. After receiving a Best of Show award in 2007 at the All Student Show, she began a more dedicated pursuit of art receiving a Certificate in Drawing, Painting and Printmaking in 2013.
Felix’ ongoing series of works include: Bailando con Mi Misma (Dancing with My Self), which explores relationships, gender, her biracial identity, body language and sensuality in mixed media monotype prints.
The Color of Women, expands to celebrate diverse female connections in mixed media collage portraits that incorporate audio.
Her newest series, The Glorious Way She Moves — Black Venus, Felix celebrates multiple nuances of beauty in women of color through multi-layered portraits.
Barbara’s work is in public and private collections. She received a1st place for 2-D art at the Round Rock Arts [Re]Imagine Exhibition in 2019 for her portrait of Thelma and Barbara. She is self-taught in animation, video and audio editing. Her animation and performance videos have been screened in festivals and exhibitions across San Antonio and the U.S.
Felix is an active member of the following art organizations: Contemporary Art Month (CAM) Executive Board Member – promoting contemporary artists in San Antonio; Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association (GAGA) – which promotes women artists across Texas; and the San Antonio Ethnic Art Society (SAEAS) – nurturing young artists of color through scholarship opportunities and supports artist members with exhibitions.
Barbara’s work is in public and private collections. She received a1st place for 2-D art at the Round Rock Arts [Re]Imagine Exhibition in 2019 for her portrait of Thelma and Barbara. She is self-taught in animation, video and audio editing. Her animation and performance videos have been screened in festivals and exhibitions across San Antonio and the U.S.
Felix is an active member of the following art organizations: Contemporary Art Month (CAM) Executive Board Member – promoting contemporary artists in San Antonio; Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association (GAGA) – which promotes women artists across Texas; and the San Antonio Ethnic Art Society (SAEAS) – nurturing young artists of color through scholarship opportunities and supports artist members with exhibitions.
