Evolution of an Artist

By Lucy Arnold, Art Editor

Featured on the cover of The Pen Woman, Winter 2025

Barbara Gurwitz - Autumn comes to the Valley Oil on Canvas Painting
“Autumn Comes to the Valley,” oil on canvas (34 x 44) by Barbara Gurwitz

Barbara Gurwitz

Barbara Gurwitz - Angels Dancing in the Desert
“Angels Dancing in the Desert #1” (9×6), ink on canvas by Barbara Gurwitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara Gurwitz (member-at-large) has been painting for 60 of her 82 years. She painted mostly figurative work in acrylics while living in Boston, New York, Spain, and France. For most of the past 45 years, she’s lived in Arizona, where she created fauvist landscapes in oil, often influenced by her travels in New Mexico.

Barbara Gurwitz - Autumn Moon Rising
“Autumn Moon Rising” (50×60), oil on canvas
Barbara Gurwitz-Above Chilipansingo
“Above Chilipansingo” (24×30), India ink and acrylic on canvas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She switched from landscapes to large geometric abstracts for about 10 years, then moved to a life care community in La Posada, Arizona. Using oil medium is not possible in her new home, so Gurwitz dug out old landscape sketchbooks and is now creating colorful new work in India ink and acrylics on canvas.

Her work is in private collections in the United States and Europe, as well as in several corporate collections and museums. Learn more at barbaragurwitzartist.com.