Artist Rachel Barbera’s series of paintings for Work Collective’s Summer to Fall 2026 exhibition is a compilation of abstract landscapes and vibrant, geometric color studies that explore the relationship between spaciousness + structure, transparency + rich texture. She works primarily with oil paint layered over washes of acrylic and implements elements of mixed media including burned charcoal, pastel, pigment sticks, and plaster. She builds and stretches most of her canvases by hand, adding to an organic aesthetic that can be felt and seen across her work.
Barbera has been showing her work since 2016 after participating in extended studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. Her pieces are in many private collections, and her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Chicago, Asheville, San Diego and Northern California.
Raised in the San Diego sunshine by the ocean, she currently resides and paints in Bend, Oregon, drawing inspiration from the high desert and the amazing community of adventurers here.
“My desire for my work is that it would be a mirror held up to you in whatever season you are in, reminding you who you are, and inviting you to lean in closer to the intricate, multifaceted beauty of your story.”
When: Wednesday, Aug 12th, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Where: Work-Collective NWX, 2900 NW Clearwater Drive, Suite 200
RSVP: In the Member Portal (please add a comment if you want to bring a plus one!) Not a member? reach out via our contact page and let us know you will be there.