Raised in San Diego, California, Barbara Little was admitted into fine arts programs throughout her childhood. After her marriage in 2007 she spent the early part of her adulthood dedicated to raising her three children. While always infusing creativity into her home, she felt a pull to continue her training in art while in her 30’s. Barbara will complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Brigham Young University–Hawaii in April 2026. As a student of oil painting and sculpture she found a passion focusing on creating the human figure. Barbara’s participation in multiple exhibitions at the McKay Gallery in Laie, HI have featured portraiture which infuses realism and expressive mark-making. Each painting or sculpture emphasizes themes of mental health, the female experience, and uncovering the depths of an individual. Her work invites further exploration into the contrast between the uniqueness and sameness of the human experience.
Artist Statement:
My portraiture focuses on the broad complexities of an individual. Working in oil, I meld realism with loose abstract elements to tell a layered narrative of what is seen on the surface, what can be learned upon closer examination, and what remains unknown. Through gesture, expressive mark-making, and symbolism I invite a deeper examination into the makeup of a person. In uncovering individuality, I often discover commonality in a lived, human experience. My explorations in themes of mental health, the female lens, and looking beyond a superficial surface reveal that complex emotions don’t equate to isolation, but rather connectedness in our shared humanity.