Biography

I have been interested in and working with various art forms since I was a young adult. I have no formal art background of any kind.

I started out in fiber, making all my own clothes, and then moved into various types of embroidery and tapestry arts. I took a workshop in basket weaving in the early 1990s and wove baskets and doll cradles for a number of years. I also wove 3 full sized baby cradles for family and friends.

When we moved to a large farm, I started growing gourds, joined the Missouri Show-Me Gourd Society, and married my love of weaving with my new skill with gourds. When we moved to the KC area, I taught classes in weaving fibers and reed on the rims of cut hard-shell gourds. I also hosted a gathering of gourd enthusiasts in the Lee’s Summit area. We met quarterly and invited gourd artists with different techniques to share their skills with us.

In 2009, I took a fused glass class at a local community center and my love of glass blossomed from there.

In November 2022, I was a featured artist on the show “Making,” which was produced by a local PBS station. You can view my segment here: https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3074153558/

I was interviewed by Canvas Rebel in December 2022. Here is the link to the article that appeared in their publication. https://canvasrebel.com/meet-barb-byrne/

I was honored to receive the 2023 Professional Development Grant from the Best of Missouri Hands (BOMH). I used the grant money to explore techniques that make use of a silk screen process on glass.

I am a member of several art groups. I served on the Board of Directors of Summit Art in Lee’s Summit, Mo for 2 years. I am a past curator for the Summit Art Gallery at Saint Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit and the current curator for the art exhibit in the Visitor’s Center at Powell Gardens Botanical Garden outside Kansas City.

I am also a juried member of the Missouri Artisans Association/The Best of Missouri Hands and I currently serve as the President of the Board of BOMH.