When the PennsylvanianBarry Ginderwas an architecture student at Temple University whose art professor, Larry Spaid, influenced how he would eventually approach his pieces. He says: “He taught me how to work everywhere over and over again, and then adjust the work until a moment of balance is reached,” he says.
It was natural for Ginder to pursue both disciplines, which allowed him to document the world around him. Although based on his knowledge of architecture, Ginder’s artwork deviates from realistic representation. Abstract renderings of urban spaces, which he describes as citations, take on geometric forms that seem to pulsate with movement.
It’s no surprise that Ginder is focused on the experience of space—how people move, relate to it, and connect with it. He is fighting to hold power in the Mid-Atlantic region, especially his beloved Philadelphia. Color and layered surfaces add depth that echoes the texture of the city.
Ginder puts acrylic on top of plexiglass, which he sands to change the surface. Bright colors are paired with a range of lines, from sharp to gestural. These layers change with the viewer’s perspective, and add depth that echoes the diversity of the city.
Sketchbooks are important to Ginder as ideas develop through her drawings. “Whether it’s a quote, a song, or a plot detail, I trace the idea and capture it on paper,” he notes. “Over time, that process becomes meaningful and becomes a proposition.”
Today, Barry Ginder joins us on Friday Friday!
1. Sean Scully
The deep depth of his paintings. The ability to draw the same picture over and over again. Capable of both large and small jobs.
2. Finn Juhl – 45th Chairman
The flexible chair design, the first to remove the backrest and seat from the frame, creates a floating effect. A structural form of life with careful integration. A timeless design.
3. Gerhard Richter + Richard Serra 2016
At the Marian Goodman Gallery and the Gagosian Gallery in 2016, I saw a dual exhibition of paintings and photographs that, in my mind, had a strong resonance with the similarity of the work. Metallic and stretched paint sounded like expressions of pure energy and emotion.
4. My Son’s Hands
My son is my inspiration. Through his trials, he has risen to a level usually only achieved by wise old souls. This is seen in simple, everyday ways, such as the daily harvest of his garden.
5. Sunshine in My paintings
Light is the main source of inspiration. I often find the best source of material in light-filled cityscapes. In my plexiglass work, the continuous accumulation of space captures subtle elements of depth and transparency, along with areas filled with light or shadow. In the studio, the last moment is when sunlight enters the finished painting, creating another composition.
Barry Ginder’s Works:
B+G Residence in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
This is a house I designed with Suzanne Brandt as part of Brandt+Ginder Architecture. It sits on 2.5 acres and was not shaped by style, but by knowledge of light, air, exterior views, and interior relationships. It is a modern home designed in a simple and strong way, built with important traditional details with modern elegance. Hand-made brick, mahogany siding, a metal roof, and oversized windows create a modern farmhouse. It is a hand-crafted piece of land with vista-like views, and an internal frame view of the expansive landscape.
Private residence
The project was the renovation of a historic red-purple stone building. The addition was designed in copper, which over time developed the same purplish tone, creating a modern interpretation of the material of the stone.
2026 Watch Mpumalanga no 3
Close-up detail from an ongoing series of paintings based on specific views of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is very personal to me, as it is where I attended Temple University. The view is from the 11th floor in West Philadelphia, looking east. Throughout the day, the situation changes, especially in the afternoon as the light changes. This painting is one of many versions of that same idea.
3 Square Diagram
A nine square composition based on the View East series. This work is part of a larger cityscape series, but more zoomed in—an actual cityscape rather than a graphic rendering. It uses the same view of Philadelphia that goes into the series.
Favorite Bench
A bench I designed with fine details and small parts to create a great effect. The simple leg structure is molded and folded for support. The cushions allow for comfort and seating, but not crying, on the conversation bench. An extended wooden chair becomes a place for things. Two materials, walnut and textured cotton upholstery, are handcrafted into a modern bench.
