Barbara Cole - Between Worlds

Barbara Cole is a pioneer of underwater photography. Her skillful play with water and light manipulates the boundaries of reality and creates a dream world in which emotions and time merge.

The metamorphosis of the human figure – whether dressing her models in anonymity or manipulating their gravity – is the main motif around which Barbara Cole's unique photography revolves. It is not without reason that the exceptional artist is praised as an inventor, because her technique is legendary.

photo: © Barbara Cole - Untitled #2, Somewhere, 2023 - three women dance underwater — photo: © Barbara Cole - *Untitled #2, Somewhere,* 2023

Her new illustrated book Barbara Cole - Between Worlds is an intense exploration of the themes of time, place and identity. Her images tell intense stories that evoke different emotions for every viewer.

Barbara Cole's background in fashion and fashion editorials is also evident in her photographs. With the help of expertly used costumes and backgrounds, she creates an atmosphere between dream world and reality. Cole's artistic work has its origins in her own underwater studio and darkroom.

Often referred to as an inventor, Cole uses a raw, hands-on photographic process that aligns with her belief that the possibilities of photography are virtually limitless.

photo: © Barbara Cole - Blue Bow, Shadow Dancing, 2011-present - woman bowed with shadow — photo: © Barbara Cole - *Blue Bow, Shadow Dancing*, 2011-present

Since the early 80s, she has channeled her appreciation for the camera itself. She dedicates herself to the history of photography by moving away from automatic cameras and techniques. Barbara Cole uses photography to play with concepts such as time, place and identity.

In her numerous series, Cole often asks the question: how do you paint a timeless image? How do you capture the feeling of weightlessness in an image?

Her ethereal photography takes on a typical picturesque quality, with the transformation of figures as a predominant theme in her work. Although she works with traditional photographic means, Cole's approach and aesthetic have become closer to that of a painter over the past thirty years.

photo: © Barbara Cole - Impersonation, Duplicity, 2013 - women under water, reflection — photo: © Barbara Cole - *Impersonation, Duplicity,* 2013

This artist's work focuses on a powerful story, sometimes with extraneous motifs and sometimes with intense figure transformations that tell the story in themselves.

Barbara Cole was born in 1953 in Toronto, Canada. Her artwork is collected by public and private institutions and exhibited worldwide. Her works are held by the Canadian embassies in Washington D.C. and Tokyo, Japan, among others.

Throughout her career, Cole has worked internationally on commercial projects and large-scale art commissions, including installations for the Princess Margaret Hospital Breast Cancer Center in Toronto and for Trump Hollywood in Florida.