Barbara Liss
Concrete Sculptor
Click above to watch a short video about Barbara and her sculpting process.
It’s Cold Outside by Barbara Liss
Artist's Statement
Concrete is a very organic medium it’s texture is the characteristic I value most.
The color palette is influenced by stone statues native to the concrete jungle of my childhood.
Sculptures vary from the sole medium of concrete to adding elements of found objects that are often the inspiration of the piece. My love of feathers has also found their way into many of my pieces, combining the lightest and heaviest of elements.
Subjects are primarily faces of our world and occasionally creatures from another. Concrete sculptures are at home in the inside and outside environment, placed wherever they inspire.
My sculptures speak to me as we become friends in the sculpting process telling me who they are or what they are thinking.
Series continue to evolve as a means of conveying multiple messages on a subject.
More About My Sculpting Process On My Youtube Page
Barly the dragon
Poem by Janet Johnson
Barly the dragon you simply can’t miss
He lies guarding the studio of Montana Bliss
He is a masterpiece, extremely sublime
Created in the studio during several months time
Now amongst colorful balls and a friendly rabbit near by
He looks quite confident, a real happy guy
With his large toothy grin and a scaley physique
The interest of passers by, he surely will pique
Barly the dragon you simply can’t miss
He lies guarding the studio of Montana Bliss
Digitally Reimagined Image
of Barbara’s concrete sculpture
Using the photos taken at the end of the sculpting process to access the sculpture for any final changes, Barbara reimages those photos using various digital programs to to create a 2-dimension art form from her 3-dimensional sculpture.
Digitally Reimaged Image
of Barbara’s concrete sculpture
Uptown Girl Series has been recreated into 24” x 36” images on canvas.
Public Art Installation
Pandemic Series
(Pictured Left to Right - Top Row: “Covid”, “Isolation”, “Protection”, Bottom Row: “Corona”)
This series was made during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
View this video on my YouTube channel to learn more on the story and sculpting process of each piece as well as how this virus has affected my artwork:
Surviving 2020 Pandemic Series
Isolation represents having time for detail.
Corona represents what the virus looks like under a microscope in the pattern created.
COVID represents the tyrant strain with steam punk details and the 19 pattern identifying the strain.
Protection represents what is needed to stay healthy, hand-washing, the hands holding soap.. The mask represents the handmade masks being made by people across the country for medical personnel with patterned fabrics. The spring earnings represent how when this is over we will spring back.
These pieces are 3 foot tall and are meant to be placed standing with a bar support on the back side.
This series is now featured on the Ravalli County Museum grounds in
Hamilton, Montana.
Current Series Now Available
Healing and Rebirth Series
(Pictured Left to Right: “Guardian”, “Defender”, “Protector”)
“Guardian” features an ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its own tail it symbolizes wholeness and infinity.
”Defender” is a Greek verb meaning “to guard or protect.” We all need a guardian right now to keep us safe and healthy.
“Protector “ pays homage to all the people in the medical field and the sacrifices they are making for the care of so many.
This sculpture features the oldest symbol of medical care from Greek mythology, a snake-entwined staff, known as the Rod of Asclepius. This is named for Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. Snakes represent healing and rebirth.
Series is garden-friendly and can be displayed outdoors.
This series available for `$2500.00
Public Art Installation
Sounds of Silence Series
(Pictured Left to Right: “Did You Hear What I Heard?”, “Shhh”, “Yes I’ve Heard That Before”)
Sounds of Silence series incorporates elements from the sea. The series is now at the Pleasant Valley Historical Society in Camarillo, CA. They will be enjoying ocean breezes in their beautiful new botanical garden home!
Click Below to see my Featured Artist Article on ArtsyShark.com!
Click Above to see my Featured Articles
in the spring 2019 and summer 2020 issues of Distinctly Montana Magazine!
Barbara Liss
Owning a property management real-estate company for 32 years I was able to use my artistic instincts to remodel homes and make additions to them, using my vision of what could be.
I incorporated the beauty of landscape enhancement where ever I could; as our outside environment is as important as the inside environment. My art of sculpted concrete can be enjoyed in either inside or outside living spaces. Owner, Montana Bliss Artworks.
§§ Director, AAB Studio Tour, 2018-2021 (Artists Along the Bitterroot).
§ Director, Culture Crawl (2ndSaturday) www.facebook.com/culturecrawllhamilton
§ Participant, Montana Artrepreneur Program, Montana Arts Council
§ Attended, Stone Carving Workshop, Camano Island, WA
§ Attended, Arts Transform Community, University of Montana
§ Participant, Art in Action Day, Offering Sculpting Workshops
§ Gave an Artist in Residency Program, Hamilton, MT
§ Article - Distinctly Montana Magazine, Spring 2019 Edition - Pages 40-43
§ Attended, Richard James Sculpting workshop, Helena, MT
§ Participant, Art in Action Day, Offering Sculpting Workshops
§ Presentation, Art Associates of Missoula, Missoula, MT
§ Article - Ravalli Republic Newspaper, July 26, 2019 -Pages 1 & 4
§ Article - Distinctly Montana Magazine, Summer 2020 Edition - Pages 46-49
§ Article - Bitterroot Star, July Edition, Lovin’ the Bitterroot - Page 20
§ Sculpture Spotlight - Fine Art Connoisseur, August 2020 Edition - Page 36
§ Authored Book - This is my Story
§ Sculpture Spotlight - Fine Art Connoisseur, August 2021 Edition
§ Board Member - Montana Glacier Country, 2022
§ Director, Explore the ARTS 2022 a nonprofit art organization www.explorethearts.art
Exhibitions and shows
2017 The Gathering - Helena, Mt
2017 Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour
2017 Opportunity Bank - Hamilton, MT
2017 Cardinal Properties - Hamilton, MT
2018 The Loft - Missoula, MT
2018 Artisans on Second - Hamilton, MT
2018 Matzke Fine Art and Sculpture Garden - Camano Island, WA.
2018 The Artist Shop, Featured Artist – Missoula, MT
2018 TrailWest Bank, Featured Artist - Hamilton
2018 Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour
2018 Montana Professional Artist Association Art Show - Missoula, Mt
2019 Member National Sculpture Society
2019 Wells Fargo investments Art Show - Missoula, MT.
2019 The Loft - Missoula, Mt
2019 Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour
2019 Montana Professional Artist Association Show - Missoula MT
2020 National Sculpture Society Online Exhibition: Self-Isolation Works in Progress
2021 Public Art installation Ravalli County Museum, Hamilton MT
2021 Missouri Falls Fine Art Show- Great Falls MT
2021 Montana Professional Artist Association Show - Missoula MT
2021 Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour
2022 Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour
2023 Sandpiper Gallery, Polson Montana
2024 Created a Sculpture Trail of 25 sculptures at FLBC at Lakeside, MT
Click below to see My
Friends Along The Trail
Bitterroot Drifted Bark by Barbara Liss
Mother Earth
This sculpture was completed in 2023
a collaboration with mosaic artist Patty Franklin
The orange flowers in the basket are ceramic by local clay artists
The sculpture was built with an armature and a concrete product called Pal Tiya was used
This is outside the studio at 101 S 7th in Hamilton Montana