Myles
Occasionally on View
About the Art
An artist, educator and mentor, Curtis Barnes, Sr. (American, 1935–2019) was an influential fixture of Dayton’s art scene. Through a bold use of color, his experimental paintings feature a distinctive blend of naturalism and abstraction. Family and friends from the community are frequently seen in his work. In this painting, one of the artist’s grandchildren, Myles Harbison, is pictured against a dark background. Barnes slightly distorted the young man’s features to appear mask-like, providing a large canvas that gives the subject a grand presence.
FEATURED IMAGE
Curtis Barnes (American, 1935–2019), Myles, 2003, oil on canvas, frame 54 1/4 x 46 1/4 inches (137.8 x 117.5 cm). Museum purchase, 2025.162
