about the artist

A lifelong lover of art, design, and craft, Barbara King brings a love of color, texture, form and tactile experience to her work. Primarily a mosaicist, she has dabbled in photography, printmaking, interior design, pen & ink, calligraphy, quilting, collage, weaving, natural dyeing, and watercolor.

intrigued by a course in the art and architecture of the roman empire as well as travels abroad, Barbara developed an interest in mosaic art in 2006. A chance meeting with Colombian mosaic artist J. Lopez in 2007 prompted her to pursue this world of bits and pieces. She later continued her studies in Ravenna, Italy with Maestra Luciana Notturni and has studied with internationally-known artists Marian shapiro, dianne sonnenberg, caitlin hepworth, vera belikova, and dino maccini.

In 2009, Barbara founded Off the Grid Studio to explore studio work, commissions, website sales, and instruction. she has created ecclesial and contemporary works in smalti, natural stone, vitreous and recycled glass, art glass, ceramic, and found objects. six of her works have been placed as public installations in Georgetown, Burnet, and Marble Falls, Texas.

                                                   artist’s statement

Throughout my life, I have been a collector and an appreciator - of things colored, things intriguing, things shapely.  During childhood, this passion revealed itself in collecting the things of nature; rocks and fossils, seed pods and leaves, the perfect sage-colored twig tinged with splotches of orange lichen.  As a young adult, my passion turned to collecting equations and formulae which I wove into a career in the world of engineering.  But always that right-brained side dwelt just beneath the surface; from time to time revealing itself in a bit of calligraphy, some made object, or an arrangement of seashells discovered on the shore. 

An early retirement from the big city and a move to the Texas Hill Country in 2007 ignited the creative spark - this time in the medium of mosaic.  As artist (and engineer), the mosaic process fits me like a second skin.  Within it, I enjoy the joyful freedom to collect, design, plan, and execute.  in a landscape of color and form, materials and adhesives, I revel in the tactile nature of the mosaic medium.

make art | do good

I gain personal satisfaction creating works of art that excite and inspire. I also love to support worthy causes.  When you purchase a work of art from otg, all proceeds are donated to causes benefiting children and families in need. 

shows | training | affiliations

  • Art, Architecture, & Theology | Panchok | 2006

  • Introduction to Mosaic | Lopez | 2008

  • Tour of the Vatican Mosaic Studio | 2009

  • Mosaic Design Basics: Color, Value, & Andamento | Giannotti | 2009

  • Breaking Loose | Wozniak | 2010

  • Mosaic As a Business | Hanansen | 2010

  • The Elements of Design for 2D Mosaics | Chinn | 2011

  • Materials, Adhesives, & Substrates | King | 2011

  • Studio Arte del Mosaico Intensive | Luciana Notturni, Ravenna | 2014

  • Introduction to Religious Art | Ochoa | 2015

  • Coop. Artisanale El Badia des Zelligeurs, Workshop | Marrakesh | 2016

  • Art-Journaling | Hieb | 2017

  • Folk Fibers Natural Dyeing Workshop | Ambrose | 2017

  • Wright Society Virtual Summit | 2017

  • Watercolor Workshop | McElwaine | 2019

  • Bend, Fold, & Undulate | Shapiro | 2019

  • one-woman charity show | the frame corner gallery | 2020

  • exploring the creative process | sonnenberg | 2021

  • Marriage of tesserae & sculptural substrates | hepworth | 2021

  • color in mosaic | belikova | 2024

  • andamento workshop | maccini | 2024

  • member society of american mosaic artists | 2008 - present

  • austin mosaic guild | 2021 - present

    contemporary mosaic art association | 2022 - present

  • volunteer service in the arts

  • Donation | "Come Holy Spirit" permanent Installation | Eagle's Wings Retreat Center | 2011

  • Instructor, mosaic art | AFA Academy | 2012 - 2015

  • Speech to Marble Falls Rotary Club regarding youth art education | 2014

  • art & interiors Coordinator, Church construction | St. John the Evangelist | 2014 - 2015

  • Donation | "Taste and See" permanent Installation | Dominican Sisters of Mary | 2016

  • Contributing author, Groutline eJournal | "When Faith Meets Art" | 2016

  • Instructor/Coordinator, summer art camp | Boys & Girls Club | 2017 - 2019

  • Instructor, Introduction to Mosaic | Endeavor University | 2018

  • art & interiors coordinator, building construction | the helping center | 2020

  • donation | “parable of the fishes and loaves” permanent installation | the helping center | 2020

  • donation | “abundance” permanent installation | the helping center | 2020

  • volunteer art instructor | phoenix center | 2019 - 2021

  • Art & interiors coordinator, building construction | st. john education center | 2022

  • donation | entryway logo | phoenix center | 2023

  • donation | “deep in the heart of texas” | the helping center | 2023

off the grid ... my happy place