A new retrospective exhibition, “Art & Design: The Art and Process of Barney Bellinger,” opens October 1, 2025 at the Perrella Gallery, exploring the extraordinary five-decade evolution of a self-taught artist whose work has spanned custom vehicles, gold leaf signage, and sculptural rustic furniture design.
This expansive show explores not only the breadth of Barney’s work but also the evolution of his process—from mechanical precision to organic intuition. Visitors will be taken on a visual and tactile journey through time, as Barney’s creations shift from custom motorcycles to the natural lines of nature-inspired furniture and forest-foraged materials.
Born in 1953 in Johnstown, New York, Barney began his career in 1971, transforming his father’s garage into Barney’s Custom Paint Shop. There, he spent nearly a decade crafting custom-painted motorcycles, cars, and vans—blending metalwork and airbrush artistry. But in 1980, a catastrophic fire destroyed his studio and tools, forcing him to reinvent not just his practice, but himself.
What followed was a profound shift in direction. Embracing hand-carved techniques and gilding traditions, Barney founded Barney’s Sign Company, producing elaborate gold leaf signs with hand-painted pictorials. His work played a central role in revitalizing Saratoga Springs' historic character, and his signs soon became sought after throughout the Northeast.
Yet his most transformative work came later, as he returned to the forests of his youth—places where, as a child, his grandfather had taught him about trees, tools, and the language of the land. Drawing inspiration from these early experiences, Barney began to merge sculpture, painting, and furniture into a unique form of functional art. Using reclaimed wood, antlers, bark, and found materials, his creations evoke both the elegance and rawness of the natural world.
“Barney is one of the most sought-after rustic artists on the East Coast,” says Ralph Kylloe, author and expert in rustic design. “His style is instantly recognizable—earthy, refined, and full of soul.”
What makes Barney’s work so compelling is not only the finished product but the process behind it. With no formal training, he has built his skills empirically—through careful observation, trial and error, and a deep reverence for craftsmanship. His tools include everything from inherited carving knowledge to a photographer’s eye for composition, all of which inform his paintings, furniture, and installations.
“Art & Design” is more than an art show—it’s a story of resilience, process, and creative rebirth. Featuring a diverse collection of work including early custom paint pieces, original hand-carved signage, rustic furniture, oil paintings, photographs, sculpture, and studio ephemera, the exhibition offers an immersive look into the life and mind of an artist who never stopped evolving.
Exhibition Details
Title: Art & Design: The Art and Process of Barney Bellinger
Dates: October 1, 2025 – January 6, 2026
Location: Perrella Gallery, [Address]
Opening Reception: October 16, 2025 6pm - 8pm
Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm or by appointment
Gallery Contact:
Brian May, Director
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