Jenna Barbe (b. 1980) currently lives and works in Cape Town. She specializes in a variety of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media with found objects. Barbe graduated from Ruth Prowse School of Art with a diploma in Fine Art in 2015.
​
ARTIST STATEMENT
ABOUT
Education
2013 - 2015
Diploma in Fine Art
Ruth Prowse School of Art,
Cape Town, South Africa
1999 - 2001
Diploma in Visual Communication
(Art Direction Specialization)
A.A.A. School of Advertising,
Cape Town, South Africa
1992 -1998
Matriculation Senior Certificate
(Exemption with A Aggregate)
St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls,
Durban, South Africa
Exhibitions & Commissions
2023
Private Commission
Commission for Leigh
Cape Town
​
2023
The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse
Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
Cape Town
​
2023
Private Commission
Commission for Greg
Mauritius
​
2022
Private Commission
How To Ride A Seahorse
One&Only Cape Town
​
2022
Private Commission
Llandudno Landscape
Llandudno, Cape Town
​
2022
Private Commission
Llandudno Landscape
Sandy Bay/Llandudno, Cape Town
​
2021
Warming Up For Summer
Art Exhibition
Lisa Linnow Gallery, Old Castle Breweries, Cape Town
​
2020
Private Commission
Permanent Installation
Table View Cabanas, Cape Town
​
2019
Private Commission
Permanent Installation
Salon 91, Cape Town
​
2019
Water Wars
Art Exhibition
Art@Africa Gallery, Clock Tower, Cape Town
​
2018
Turbine Art Fair
Installation
Johannesburg
​
2017
Wavescape Artboard Charity Auction
Surfboard Art Exhibition
Jack Black Brewing Co. Cape Town
​
2017
Adult Education Programme
Art Exhibition
Peter Clarke Art Centre
​
2017
Private Commission - The Beekman's
Kwa-Zulu Natal
​
2017
Private Commission-Responsible Research
Old Castle Breweries, Cape Town
​
2017
Private Commission-Edwin Stokes
Australia
​
2016
Wavescape Artboard Charity Auction
Surfboard Art Exhibition
Tiger's Milk, Cape Town
​
2014
In Minima Forma
Pop-Up Exhibition
Ruth Prowse School of Art
​
2014
Out of the Blue
Ceramic Exhibition
Rust-en-Vrede and Mervyn Gers Studio
​
​
​
​
I am researching the duality of existing in two worlds. Exploring the inner and outer body, I address the conflict that occurs between the emotional state and the external physical image that is portrayed to the outside world. This duality extends to my relationship with the ocean and the relationships within my social world.
My work explores the concept of uncovering and exposing the emotional world. The carved surfboard blanks represent the fragile inner self. The intricacy and complexity of our psyches are reflected in the detail of the exposed inner world that is depicted through the coral reef motifs. To articulate my concept, I reference Stony Coral because of its intrinsic nature to build up a hard outer shell to protect its delicate body.
​