Barbara Postelnek is a sculptor from three generations of artists. Her grandparents were forced out of Russia in the early 1900's during the land confiscation and forced conscription, losing their property and history. Settled in the US, her grandparents retained their Russian passion and talent for intricate decorative art. They instilled an appreciation of art in her parents, and in her as a child. Her grandfather worked in mosaic and copper. Her father was the first to have a university education and became a statistion in the American government. His hobby was painting. Her mother, also the first in her family with a university education, earned several master's degrees and was an art teacher. Her mediums were sculpture, ceramics, drawing, enamel, and glass.
Barbara grew up in the suburbs of Maryland where she regularly enjoyed the museums of Washington, D.C.Are classes were included in her early education. She earned her degree at the University of Maryland. In 1980 she moved to New York City and married. While her husband was being treated for cancer, she realized how unpredictable life could be. Putting her passion for art aside during her marriage was unecessary, and she began sculpting . Scholarships from both the National Academy of Design and the National Sculpture Society allowed her to study for many years with seven different sculptors. In 1999 she moved to San Diego where she continues to create and teach classes.
EDUCATION
The National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts, NY, has a long established museum, the School of Fine Arts, andthe founder of the Metropolitan Museum. Scholarships from the school and from the National Sculpture Society allowed her to attend for many years. www.nationalacademy.org
The Art Students League, NY. The well known child of the National Academy.
University of Maryland. BA
PERMANENT COLLECTION
The Butler Institute juried her bronze figure "It Doesn't Matter" into their permanent collection in 2006. The museum is located in Youngstown, OH. This is the USA's first and oldest museum of American Art founded in 1919. Its mission is to collect important works of art created by citizens of the USA.
TEACHING
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library has been the artist's affiliation for instruction since 2006.The San Diego culptural center also presents an eclectic, year-round schedule of art exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and studio art classes through its School of the Arts. The sculpture studio annex is located in University Heights, San Diego.
www.ljathenaeum.org/school
Space 4 Art
A "live, work and learn" complex of buildings for artists. Barbara established a class in 2011 for the public. It is located in the East Village of downtown San Diego.
She began by teaching in a foundry in San Diego in 2004.