art deco

OUR HISTORY

by

Our Founders The Barber Institute of Fine Arts owes its existence to the vision of Lady Martha Constance Hattie Barber (1869–1933) — pictured (right) in a portrait by James Jebusa Shannon [1912]. Lady Barber was the daughter of a wealthy Worcestershire businessman, Simon Onions, who, after an education at Cheltenham Ladies College married the Birmingham … Read more

‘THE MOST PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HIS WORK’

by

Robert Atkinson and the Building of the Barber Institute The Barber Institute is widely regarded as an Art Deco masterpiece. This display explores its gradually evolving concept and actual construction up to its opening in 1939. The story of its architecture – from gradually evolving concept through construction, overseen by the Barber’s first Director, Thomas … Read more