Merritt Barnwell

Yale School of Art

Artwork title: Peter and Natalie
oil on cardboard | 28.25 x 29 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
This painting is based on a series of photographs of group portraits I staged last year. I was playing with the idea of feeling disconnected and alienated in a crowd of people. I wanted to create a kind of geometry with the positioning and interaction of the figures. Also, I wanted to capture a casual interaction of figures through a very staged process.

How do you describe your work and practice?
I am currently exploring many different media and combining graphic design, sculpture and painting. I am most interested in figurative art and in depicting the dynamics of interacting figures.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
I participated in the exhibit last year and was excited and motivated by the whole experience. It is the only contest I’ve found that caters to the specific area of art I really identify with, and I loved seeing and meeting all the artists last year. It was an incredible experience and working with the New York Academy of Art also was very special.

What is your background in art?
I have a strong background in figurative art, taking classes in and out of school in sketching and painting the human form. In addition, I have been taking classes in graphic design and sculpture in college.

Instagram | @merritt_barnwell