Barbara Zanelli graduated with a B.F.A. in Illustration from Syracuse University in 1999, and immediately moved to NYC. She met success in shows at Figureworks Gallery and Get Real Art, but felt drawn to study classical painting in Florence, Italy. She lived there for one year studying drawing under Mario Pachioli. Then in 2004, she moved to Philadelphia on a full scholarship to study with Nelson Shanks at Studio Incamminati. It was here that she developed her portrait, anatomy and color theory skills. She left the atelier in 2006 to work on a series of large thematic figure paintings and began to explore landscape painting. After traveling and painting extensively, Barbara returned to Incamminati to finish the Professional Program in 2015 and served as a teaching fellow at the school for two years. She currently teaches painting and drawing at Fleisher Art Memorial, Studio Incamminati, Wayne Art Center, Abington Art Center, Journey’s Way and Repenning Fine Arts in Audubon, NJ.
Selected Shows/Accolades:
2022 – 2020 -Academy of Notre Dame Fine Art Show
2020 – 2016 Equine Artist’s Association, NJ
2020 – 2017 Devon Horse Fine Art Show
2019 Second place award at Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival
2019 – 2013 Rittenhouse Fine Art Show
2017-18 Served on the Board of the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show
2018 Three Decades of Artmaking, Wellpoint Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Philadelphia
2017 Nelson Shanks and his Influence, Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia
2017 Studio Incamminati Faculty and Fellows show, Plastic Surgery wing at UPenn Perelman Medical Center, Philadelphia
2017 Gazes Beyond: Group Exhibit in oncology ward at Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia
2017 Studio Incamminati Faculty and Fellows show, Avery Gallery, Philadelphia
2016 Small works show, Frameworks Gallery, Philadelphia
2016 SI Faculty, Fellows, Alumni, Student Show, Freemans Auction House, Philadelphia
2015 Small works show, Philadelphia Sketch Club
2015 Friends and Neighbors show, AIRspace Gallery, Philadelphia
2015 Inaugural Student Excellence Award at Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show, Philadelphia
2015 SI Group show, Comcast Center, Philadelphia
2014 Group Show, Painted Bride, Philadelphia
2014 2nd place in NJ Equine Artist’s Association, NJ
2013 Self portrait show, Figureworks Gallery, NYC
2013 Winner of NYRA Equestrian Art Competition, Long Island
2012 Nudes, Gallery Golmok, South Korea
2012 Meritorious on 3 paintings in the Richeson 75 collection 2012
2012 Faces, Gallery 13w, Philadelphia
2008 Subway Series III, Figureworks Gallery, NYC
2007 Bacchus, Tasting Room Gallery, Long Island
2004 Subway Series II solo show, Figureworks Gallery, NYC
2000-02 Salon style art, Get Real Art, NYC
2000 Subway Series I, Figureworks Gallery, NYC
1999 Horses, Coffee Shop, Syracuse, NY