Featured image: Sunset, Anita Barnes, 2024, mixed media, 17 x 5.5 x 5.5 in. / 43.18 x 13.97 x 13.97 cm.
Anita Barnes brings an innovative approach to mixed media sculpture, blending brass, paper, glass, and found materials to craft intricate floral forms that bridge the organic and the man-made.
Anita Barnes blends metal, paper, and glass to create intricate floral sculptures, merging organic elegance with industrial elements to form striking botanical artworks.
Her works celebrate the delicate structure of flowers while incorporating an industrial aesthetic, offering a unique interplay between natural beauty and constructed form. Through her meticulous craftsmanship, Barnes reimagines floral elegance in a sculptural medium, breathing life into inanimate materials.
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Cloud, Anita Barnes. 2024, mixed media, 18.5 x 8 x 8 in. / 46.99 x 20.32 x 20.32 cm.
"Cloud" is an ethereal representation of floral delicacy, crafted from paper, brass, glass, and china. The sculpture’s base—a combination of a china cup, a glass plate, and a wooden disk—anchors the piece in a sense of balance and stability. Rising from this foundation, brass sheet metal forms intricate leaves, while the flower’s petals, composed of layered paper and lamp components, add a sense of weightlessness. The brass stamens, adorned with beads, introduce a shimmering quality, enhancing the airy, almost floating presence of "Cloud." This piece evokes a sense of organic fragility, mimicking nature’s effortless grace.
Delphi, Anita Barnes, 2025, mixed media, 20 x 8 x 8 in. / 50.8 x 20.32 x 20.32 cm.
"Delphi" takes inspiration from the mythic wisdom of its namesake, embodying the richness of history in a sculptural form. This work features a stacked composition of wood, china, and glass, with brass tubes forming elegant stems that extend toward the sky. The carefully cut brass leaves create an interplay of shadow and light, emphasizing the fine craftsmanship of each detail. Paper petals provide a soft contrast to the metallic structure, while the Lapis bead stamens add a sense of refinement and spiritual resonance. "Delphi" is a symbolic meditation on knowledge, growth, and transformation.
OZ, Anita Barnes, 2025, mixed media, 20 x 8 x 8 in. / 50.8 x 20.32 x 20.32 cm.
"OZ" is a fantastical interpretation of a blooming flower, rooted in a lush green aesthetic. The base—a glass plate, a wooden disk, and a glass vase—creates an illusion of fluidity and movement, as if the sculpture is swaying in an unseen breeze. The brass tube stem stretches upward, supporting intricately shaped leaves cut from brass sheet metal and wrapped in malachite beads. The petals, composed of paper and a lamp bobeche, bring an element of warmth and familiarity, while the brass stamens enhance the otherworldly vibrance of the piece. "OZ" stands as a whimsical celebration of nature’s ability to inspire, adapt, and thrive.
Anita Barnes' work transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, proving that industrial and organic elements can harmoniously coexist. Each sculpture draws from the delicate structures of flowers while embracing the strength of metal, glass, and wood. Through her art, Barnes reminds us of the resilience and elegance inherent in nature, encapsulating its beauty in a way that defies both time and fragility.
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