Iconic Maine Artist Philip Barter on Painting His Former Place of Employment: The Working Waterfront

"Philip Barter turns 83 in 2023, and the Portland Art Gallery is celebrating his 60 years of creating iconic Maine art with a solo exhibition. Much of the work presented will be from Philip’s private collection that he has meticulously stored away for decades. This is what Carl Little, Maine art critic and author, says about Philip Barter "Barter's art harks back to Marsden Hartley and other American Modernists and their abstracting ways; a kind of school has sprung up in his impressive wake. You can hear the gallery-goer point to a brashly painted Maine landscape by a contemporary and say, 'I see a bit of Barter there.'

"Like Andrew Wyeth, he has his emulators. And you can understand why: the appeal of Barter's stylized renderings of trees and rivers, mountains and clouds, is powerful. His ability to extract the essence of the landscape provokes marvel. He sees the geometry of a peak, the jagged coursing of woodland streams, and a snowfield's curving contours. His palette, often not for the faint of hue, underscores his lively vision."

Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine’s community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode.

Philip Barter is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view his art.