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CUSTOMER PROFILE
Tracy Silva Barbosa is an artist working in glass sculpture and painting, residing in Brooklyn, New York. While studying at The Massachusetts College of Art, Barbosa majored in glass sculpture. As a student, she traveled to Japan where she was fascinated by the asymmetry and narrative of Asian scroll paintings. After graduation Barbosa worked for three years with John Lewis Glass, partaking in the Oklahoma City Memorial. Yet, it is New York that captured the attention of this artist as the location for her to pursue her own path.
In New York Barbosa is able to create art independently. A culture exists where the people are receptive to artists and new ideas. Barbosa grew tired of waiting for galleries to notice her, so she began selling her own work and opened a studio. Barbosa began by setting out on the streets, participating in art markets, reaching out to people and displaying her abilities.
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"Ship In the Mist" 2007 (wall mounted)
Sandblasted, painted, gold leafed plate glass on stainless steel brackets (Actual size 30" x 50" x 5")
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Barbosa focuses her work in the gallery scene but continues to display at art markets. Through the markets she acquires private clientele, and galleries approach her. She typically sells paintings on canvas but her glass sculptures have become an increasingly popular element in her offering. Being an independent artist, her clientele allow and encourage her to express her artistic abilities.
Recently, Barbosa has been awarded the Bioré /GENART award. The challenge was to find a great new undiscovered female artist. The uncover/discover competition awarded Barbosa the art winner above 1,300 entrees.
Today, Barbosa’s work is progressing toward the architectural market . She leads her customers daring ways to look at art in a style that is complimentary to architectural structure echoing the style of Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini.
Barbosa designs high-end artwork to install in homes and business collections. She uses IKONICS Imaging to assist her artistic opportunities by means of the MonuMask Service. Barbosa states that MonuMask makes her life a lot easier, that the service is wonderful. It is an essential part of her process for creating signature art by transferring images to glass.
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"Ship in the Mist" detail |
MonuMask provides her the ability to apply the masks where she wants them. She then sends them out for sandblasting; and when they come back she removes the mask from the glass. Next, she colorfills some areas, utilizing the intaglio techniques of spreading oil paint and rubbing it off the high areas of her piece. Barbosa mixes an industrial technique with fine art using MonuMask for creating tight-line imagery into her work. Glass etching is combined with painting to enhance her glass sculptures.
Staying fresh and innovative are two major keys to success for growth. It is a constant struggle for Barbosa when clients respond to one style and then resist the changes to new ideas. She worries about losing the business of collectors. Barbosa replies: “I must trust new ideas as good ones.”
The most difficult part of her business is keeping up with the commissions, and coming up with ideas in a timely fashion. It may take a while to register what she would like to do with the space in someone’s home. Part of being a professional artist is coming up with art in a timely fashion. Since she is experienced, Barbosa knows the process better, and can rely on past experience. Barbosa anticipates developing a rapport with IKONCS Imaging. It has been suggested that if her sandblasted glass sculptures become a more marketable product, IKONICS Imaging could build an archive of artwork and information from her past projects. These projects can be reused in a new manner for future ones.
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