Hallmark Achievements

Ivan Barnett brings a dynamic blend of creativity and strategic expertise to the art world with many hallmark achievements. Ivan’s unique perspective as both an artist and a gallery owner allows him to understand and support the art community in profound ways. Under his direction, Patina Gallery in Santa Fe became an internationally acclaimed institution. The gallery is known for featuring soul-stirring works in an artistic atmosphere. Barnett is dedicated to helping artists and galleries thrive by balancing commerce with creativity.

He offers comprehensive services including studio management, public relations, marketing, event, and presentation strategies. Barnett’s approach ensures sustainable success in the fast-paced art world. He guides clients to find harmony between their artistic desires and business needs.

The Exhibits

In January 2023, Ivan curated an event honoring opera star Susan Graham at Patina Gallery in conjunction with her performance at the Lensic Theater. This collaboration not only celebrated her remarkable career but also strengthened the gallery’s ties to the performing arts community.

Ivan’s hallmark achievements include the “Oxidized” exhibition in June 2023, featuring jewelry with oxidized surfaces. This exhibition enlisted 12 global jewelry artists. It also featured opera stars Emily Fons and Sylvia D’Ermo wearing the pieces, with proceeds benefiting the Santa Fe Opera. The event showcased Ivan’s ability to blend different art forms into a cohesive, compelling narrative.

In 2022, Barnett orchestrated “A Season of Blue,” inspired by his friendship with opera star Angel Blue. This series of exhibitions explored various interpretations of the color blue. The exhibition included works by Claire Kahn and a rare automobile exhibition. The exhibitions, collections, and events from master metalsmith Peter Schmid of Atelier Zobel to renaissance artist, Claire Kahn, mixed media artist, Ivan Barnett, and many more—were all inspired by the universal power of “blue.” 

The “Unearthing New European Makers” exhibition in 2019 marked Ivan Barnett’s return to the Schmuck Jewelry fair in Munich. His mission to discover fresh talent reinforced Patina Gallery’s global influence. Barnett committed to continually refreshing the gallery’s offerings with exciting new artists.

In 2018, the “Porsche Portraits by Michael Furman” exhibition exemplified Barnett’s knack for creating captivating stories through art. Combining Furman’s automotive photography with rare Rolex watches, this event attracted a large audience and generated significant buzz.

“Friendship Forged in Gold,” in 2017, covered an exhibition Barnett set up and curated featuring sculptor Andrew Fisher and jewelry artist Claire Kahn. It highlighted the thematic connections between their works, the materials used, and the public’s positive reception.​

Savion Glover and Petra Class, Spirit of the Jazz Age and Rhythmical Arrangements shows at Patina Gallery in May 2016.

This fundraiser, in early May of 2015,  “Water, Sky, Earth, and Mountains: The Meditative Landscapes of Tomie dePaola,” covered and exhibition, also a benefit for The Nature Conservancy.  This featured the world-renowned works of children’s book illustrator DePaola with the involvement of Ivan Barnett. It emphasized the collaboration and friendship between Barnett and DePaola, the thematic elements of nature and conservation, and the exhibition’s impact on the community​

This piece featured an article in the American Craft Council, “A Little Big Gallery.” Here, the magazine interviews Barnett about his influence in developing the Patina Gallery since 1999.

In “Abstraction,” Ivan Barnett’s latest exhibition explores the themes of abstraction in his works, the techniques he employed, and the critical reception of the exhibition. In this case, color was added to his pieces where it hadn’t been done before.  The article emphasized Barnett’s ability to evoke emotions and thoughts through abstract form​.

Barnett invited about a dozen artists to show their work at Patina. He highlighted their talents as important Native American makers.  He curated the work of several prominent Native American artists for the Southwest Association of Indian Artists (SWAIA) show and reception.  This was a collaboration with curator Bruce Bernstein. ​

In Conclusion

Through his leadership, he created synergy between different art forms and maintained a strategic vision that keeps artists and galleries thriving. His dedication to fostering creativity and business acumen ensured that his clients succeed in an ever-evolving market.  Ivan Barnett is the highly qualified coach for professional artists.