For over two decades, Hannah Barrett has explored the concept of gender ambiguity in their work. The characters in their paintings inhabit richly decorated settings and gain their persona through both personal and historical references. Barret develops the scenes through extensive research, detailed preparatory sketches, and multiple layers of oil paint.
As a student at Boston University, Wellesley College, and SMFA/Tufts Barrett was a frequent visitor to the Gardner and was excited to reconnect with the Museum during their artist’s residency in March/May, 2025. The mix of fabrics, art, furniture and the mysterious atmosphere resonated with Barrett and provided the perfect space for exploration and discovery. They wandered through the galleries and took the opportunity to work both in the Museum with their Jullian travel easel and in the onsite apartment provided for artists.
Barrett spent time in the Archives, took a late-night flashlight tour of the galleries, and visited the Conservation Labs, where they examined Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast (1882–1883) by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) which was about to go on loan to the MET in New York. They also learned about the Dutch Room restoration project, with a particular focus on the replacement wall fabrics.
Barrett became intrigued by Gardner’s collection of books and card games, especially those centered on the supernatural, mysteries, and fantastical tales. In the labs Barrett perused volumes of A Book of Nonsense and Laughable Lyrics by Edward Lear, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland series by Lewis Carroll, Spectropia, or Surprising spectral illusions showing ghosts everywhere, and of any color by James G. Greggory, a puzzle game titled, Sybilline Leaves by Edward Wallace, Italian Fortune Telling Cards and a set of 12 stamp-sized Laberinto Playing Cards that functioned as a 17th century pseudo-mind reading game. Barrett also purchased copies of several books in Gardner’s collection for their personal library. These included works of Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Wilkie Collins, Oscar Wilde, Amy Lowell and Vernon Lee.
During their residency Barrett was active in Boston beyond the Gardner Museum. While in the city, they installed an exhibition at Childs Gallery on Newbury Street. The Moon Visits—a group show featuring paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, and art objects—was presented in celebration of Pride Month. Their portrait series Tales From The House of Gibson (2010) was also reinstalled for the month at the Gibson House Museum on Beacon Street, where they gave an artist talk in conjunction with the exhibition.
Hannah Barrett's artwork will be installed in 2027 on the Anne H. Fitzpatrick Façade, the Gardner’s public art space on the Renzo Piano wing.
Hannah Barrett (b. 1966, USA) attended Wellesley College and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston before receiving their MFA in painting from Boston University. Their work has been exhibited at Decordova Museum, Lincoln, MA; Museum of Fine Arts Boston; The Gibson House Museum, Boston, MA; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C; The Schoolhouse Gallery, Provincetown, MA; Bill Arning Exhibitions, Kinderhook, NY; Childs Gallery, Boston; La MaMa Galleria, NY; Spring Break 2020, NY; Platform Project Space, Dumbo, NY; Callicoon Fine Arts, NY; and Mother Gallery, Beacon, NY.
Barrett received the MOTHA Award; Artadia Fund Award; and a Fire Island Artist Residency. Academic engagements include Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, RISD, Boston College and recently Bard College where they served as the Executive Director of the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts.
Barrett is also the illustrator of a vegan and lesbian themed children’s book “Nuts in Nutland”. They are based in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley, New York.
