Artist Spotlight: Barbara Behrmann

By Kathie Scrimgeour

Barbara Behrmann’s life has not been linear! Originally from Michigan, she ended up in Ithaca, New York, 34 years ago. She received a Ph.D. in sociology from Penn State University and went on to raise two daughters, write a book, The Breastfeeding Café, and work as a writer, speaker, organizational leader, and event planner specializing in weddings and other social events. She is also a certified Humanist Celebrant and has officiated at more than 125 weddings.

Barbara began quilting when her children were young, but it wasn’t until they left home that she was able to devote more time to textile art and painting.

In 2025, Barbara became a seasonal resident of Tucson. In addition to becoming a member of SAAG, she joined Fiber Artists of Southern Arizona (FASA) and Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona (CASA). In Ithaca, she is a member of the State of the Art Gallery and part of the Greater Ithaca Art Trail.

From October 2 through November 28, Barbara will have a solo exhibition of her textile art at the Orazio Salati Gallery in Binghamton, New York.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Barbara.

Q. Can you tell us about your journey as an artist? How did you first get started?

I started almost 30 years ago making traditional quilts, but quickly realized that I wanted to create original work based on my own designs. I began to work improvisationally and gradually explored other approaches to design, often using photos I’ve taken as inspiration.  Eventually, I began creating my own fabrics using fiber-reactive dyes and more than a dozen different surface design techniques. About five years ago, I also took up acrylic painting, creating non-representational work. In both my quilts and paintings, my work is abstract, layered, and saturated with color.

Q How do you decide on the themes or subjects of your pieces? Is there a particular message you aim to convey?

Much of my work is inspired by and celebrates the landscapes of the two places I call home: the arid, sun-drenched terrain of Arizona and the lush scenery of upstate New York. My travels and even an imaginary sense of place provide additional sources of inspiration. Other times, my subject matter is completely non-representational, driven by design elements, such as color, value, and line.  While I have great admiration for artists who work conceptually, my work is first and foremost driven by color.

My goal is to create vibrant compositions that draw the viewer in for a closer look. If I can generate that same childhood excitement that came from opening up a new box of crayons, I consider my work a success.

Q. What are your future goals with your work?

I am working on a series of quilts inspired by the slot canyons of northern Arizona. I hope to build on this series by contrasting them with the waterfalls and gorges that are abundant where I live in upstate New York. With regard to my paintings, I want to continue exploring how abstraction can evoke the essence and feeling of place, without becoming representational. Overall, I look forward to finding new opportunities to share my work with others.

Q. How do you stay motivated and find inspiration, especially during creative blocks?

This is one of the advantages of working two different mediums. When I am feeling stuck in one, I can focus on the other. One of my biggest challenges is often choosing a project to work on because that means that I have to set aside ten other ideas! The indecision can temporarily paralyze me!

Q. What is the greatest reward of your work?

There are three parts to my answer. First is the joy of being completely absorbed in the creative process, which happens in some projects more than others. Then there is the intrinsic satisfaction that comes from feeling good about a piece I’m particularly proud of. Finally, I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to bring joy to someone else. I’m thrilled when something I’ve made leaves my studio and finds a new life in someone else’s home, office, or building.

Q. How long have you been a SAAG member and how has your membership benefited you?

I’ve been a member for a little less than two years, joining shortly after arriving in Tucson. Although I am only here for part of the year, I’ve benefited from developing relationships with other artists, having the opportunity to talk about our work, and finding inspiration and motivation within such a creative community. 

Q. Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

We’re living in a time when so much of our lives doesn’t produce anything tangible. At the end of the day, we have nothing to show for the time we spend in front of a screen.  

I find the act of creating something to be deeply satisfying. And in these challenging times, being surrounded by color is a kind of therapy. It brings me joy. I hope that my work elicits a joyful, emotional response in others, as well.

You can visit Barbara’s website at www.ArtQuiltsbyBarb.com and follow her on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/artquiltsbybarb  and/or Facebook at facebook.com/ArtQuiltsbyBarb.com.

“How the Light Gets In”