Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

Visual artist Natasha Barnes is currently exhibiting her dynamic and colourful art at the Kizo Art Gallery.

Titled Against The Wind, the exhibition is on at Durban's Gateway shopping complex until Sunday.

Though she is well established internationally, Barnes remains a relatively undiscovered gem in South Africa.

This is probably because since she turned professional in 1998 Barnes has spent most of her time exhibiting at some of the most prestigious international art expos.

Barnes is an artist who likes simple art and who loves colours.

In defining her works she says: "Art is what I do. Every painting is a mood, a reflection of what is happening in my mind. Some days are quiet and some days are abstract."

But for Barnes every day is a painting and a whole new way of looking at the world. She says she found inspiration in her travels.

"I absorb the moments and transfer the feelings to my canvas, bright and bold. Every stroke moulds my signature," she says.

Throughout her life Barnes has enjoyed painting. Initially she painted as a hobby. When she started art as a career, Barnes exhibited at local art shows and small private exhibitions.

She says at these small exhibitions she started receiving recognition and praise for her work and decided to make a living out of art.