Joseph Barbaccia (American, born Philadelphia, PA, 1952) studied at Tyler School of Fine Art in Philadelphia. Barbaccia spent the following 8 years (1976- 84) traveling through the United States and South Pacific, concentrating on drawing and painting in a mostly representational style.

In 1996, Barbaccia moved to Potomac Falls, VA. Over the next 4 years he began to paint with encaustics on carved plaster reliefs. With his “Animal Metaphors” series in 2000 and the 2002 “Santos” series, he fully evolved to freestanding sculpture, creating pieces that employed the act of wrapping and winding materials over a mixed media framework.

In 2003 Barbaccia’s art took another definitive step. By incorporating the most basic of materials in assemblies that underscore craftsmanship and meaning, he had pared down visual insight to a more essential level of expression.

2008 saw Barbaccia’s work recognized in the Greater Washington Metro area as some of the most compelling by his becoming a finalist for the Trawick Prize.