Thomas Barrow archive

Photographer, designer, and educator Thomas Francis Barrow was born September 24, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri to Luther Hopkins Barrow and Cleo Naomi Francis Barrow. He attended Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design in 1963. During 1965 he attended classes at Northwestern University in Chicago where he studied film. In the same year he moved with his wife and daughter to Rochester, NY to join the staff of George Eastman House as Assistant Curator of the Research Center. During 1967 he studied with Aaron Siskind and earned an MS in Photography from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. During 1968-1971 he lectured in history and aesthetics of photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and Buffalo State University. He was awarded his first NEA Fellowship in 1971 and became one of the original members of LIGHT Gallery that year. Barrow became Assistant Director of George Eastman House, and editor of Image in 1972. At George Eastman House he formed friendships with people who would become important in his career and life, such as Harold Jones, Beaumont Newhall, and Robert Sobieszek. In 1973 he divorced, accepted the positions of Associate Director of the University Art Museum and Associate Professor of Art at the University of New Mexico and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he remarried in 1974. That year The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California was published, designed by Barrow. He resigned as Associate Director of the University of New Mexico Art Museum to teach full time and devote more time to his work. The same year he directed the University of California, Riverside Summer Photography Institute and had a one man show at LIGHT Gallery in New York City. He became Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, Department of Art in 1971 and continued in that position until 1981. He earned a second NEA Visual Arts Grant in 1978. He became Professor of Art and Art History at University of New Mexico Department of Art in 1981. Many of his students went on to have prominent careers in photography. During 1982 his book Reading Into Photography was published by University of New Mexico and Barrow had a one man exhibition at Friends of Photography in Carmel, California. He became Acting Director of the University of New Mexico Art Museum in 1985. In 1991 he had a heart attack and coronary bypass surgery. In 2000 he became Adjunct Curator of Photography for the University of New Mexico Art Museum and in May of 2001 he retired from the University of New Mexico Department of Art and was designated Professor Emeritus of Photography in 2002. The Center for Creative Photography acquired his archive in 2005.

Barrow’s professional career is multifaceted. A nationally known photographer, innovator, and educator, his professional career encompasses museums, education, photography, publications, and literature review. His career began in 1965 at George Eastman House, but in 1973 he joined the University of New Mexico where he spent the rest of his career. At both institutions he curated exhibitions, produced publications and wrote reviews. Barrow’s early training in graphic design at KCAI influenced his photography and projects in poster, book and publication design and he sustained ties with KCAI throughout his career. Creative and experimental, he has maintained a lively interest in the arts of literature, film and music which influence his work. From the beginning of his career he had a scholarly interest in the history and aesthetics of photography, later publishing the book Reading Into Photography. Barrow, along with Louis Baltz and Robert Heinecken, were among photographers experimenting with subject matter, styles and processes of photography during the 1970s. In 1974 Barrow designed the Lewis Baltz monograph, New Industrial Parks Near Irvine California, which became a landmark photography publication. During the 1970’s Barrow was awarded an NEA Fellowship and two NEA grants and became one of the first photographers represented by LIGHT gallery. As an educator Barrow mentored many students who became prominent in the photography and museums fields.

Barrow has maintained a wide network of friends, former students and colleagues over his career, many of whom were leaders in the photography, fine arts and museum fields. His award-winning photography, teaching and scholarly reputation led to his recognition as a notable figure in contemporary photography. As a result, he participated in many exhibitions, workshops, lectures, panels and competitions over his career.

Chronology

1938

Thomas Francis Barrow born to Luther Hopkins Barrow and Cleo Naomi (Francis), September 24, in Kansas City, Missouri.

1963

Graduates with BFA in Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), Kansas City, KS.

1965

Takes film courses with Jack Ellis at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Moves with wife Barbara and daughter Melissa to Rochester, NY.

1965

Joins staff of George Eastman House as Assistant Curator of Exhibitions, Associate Curator of Research Center.

1967

MS in Photography, Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago, IL. Studies with Aaron Siskind.

1968-1971

Lecturer in history and aesthetics of photography at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Buffalo State University 1969-1970.

1970

Son Timothy born.

1971

NEA Fellowship.

1971

Becomes one of original members of Light Gallery.

1971-1972

Assistant Director, George Eastman House, Rochester, NY.

1972

Editor of Image, George Eastman House. Rochester, NY.

1973

Awarded NEA Visual Arts Grant.

1973

He accepts position of Associate Director of the University Art Museum and Associate Professor of Art at the University of New Mexico. He and Barbara divorce. TFB moves to Albuquerque, NM.

1974

Marriage to Laurie Anderson in New Mexico, November 30.

1974

Publication of The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California. Photographs by Lewis Baltz, designed by Thomas Barrow.

1976

Director, University of California, Riverside. Summer Photography Institute.

1976

Resigns as Associate Director of University of New Mexico Art Museum to teach full time and devote more time to his work.

1976

One man show at LIGHT Gallery, New York, NY.

1976-1981

Associate Professor at University of New Mexico, Department of Art, Albuquerque, NM.

1978

Awarded second NEA Visual Arts Grant.

1980

Son Andrew born.

1981

Appointed Professor of Art and Art History at University of New Mexico Department of Art.

1982

One man exhibition at Friends of Photography, Carmel, California.

1982

Publication by UNM Press of his Reading Into Photography.

1983

Designated Honored Photographer at SPE West/Southwest Conference.

1985

Acting Director, University Art Museum, University of New Mexico.

1986

Monograph of his work, Inventories and Transformations published.

1986-1992

Trustee of Friends of Photography.

1985-1990

Presidential Professorship Award, University of New Mexico.

1991

Heart attack and coronary bypass surgery.

2000

Adjunct Curator of Photography for the University of New Mexico Art Museum.

2001

Retires from University of New Mexico Department of Art, Albuquerque, NM in May.

2002

Becomes Professor Emeritus of Photography, University of New Mexico.

2005

Center for Creative Photography acquires his archive.

2012

Monograph of his work from the 1970s and 1980s, Cancellations published.

Two monographs of Barrow’s work have been published, Inventories and Transformations (1986) and Cancellations (2012). Barrow’s work has been widely exhibited and is in the collections of many museums.