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Barbara Pratt Wangersky I concentrate on the visual, tactile aspect through the use of flowing fabric. The social aspects play a bigger role for me, however I like to depict women's free and independent spirits. Perhaps I sense a battle between how we would like to be seen as women and how we are seen. Excerpt from artist statement in curriculum vitae, AGNL Permanent Collection file. Barbara Pratt Wangersky was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1963. Pratt Wangersky grew up in a household where art was frequently discussed. However, her parents, Mary and Christopher Pratt, neither actively encouraged nor discouraged her from exploring a career as an artist. She began drawing and painting during her third year studying art history at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She received grants and awards for her artwork after graduating in 1984. After a succession of group exhibitions, her first solo show was in 1986 at the Spurrell Gallery in St. John's.
Pratt Wangersky paints the human figure almost exclusively. Her artwork features images of generic women who appear in fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle. The central focus of her paintings is not the models but rather the colour and texture of the clothing they are wearing. The vivid colours and detailed textures of Pratt Wangersky's work has been described as "fabric realism". The clothes, which appear to have a life of their own, leave the model wearing them rendered abstractly. Pratt Wangersky frequently decides not to show the heads of the women she paints. Pratt Wangersky is also known for her graphite portrates. In addition to the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador's Permanent Collection, Pratt Wangersky's artwork can be found in private and public collections across Canada and the United States. She continues to paint in her studio in St. Phillip's, Newfoundland.
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