Rob Barnard was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1949. After serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, he began studying pottery at the University of Kentucky in 1971. In 1974, Barnard was accepted into the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen and became a research student at Kyoto University of Fine Arts in Japan, where he studied under the renowned Kazuo Yagi. During his time in Japan, he participated in numerous juried exhibitions and held five solo shows in cities including Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Otsu, and Shigaraki. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1978, Barnard received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. The following year, he completed the construction of a studio and kiln in Timberville, Virginia. Barnard has since returned to Japan multiple times for solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. From 1987 to 1993, he served as the ceramics editor for The New Art Examiner, and in 1990, he was awarded a second NEA Fellowship. In addition to his exhibitions in Japan, Barnard has shown his work widely across the United States and in Great Britain. His pieces are held in notable collections, including the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, the American Craft Museum, the Everson Museum, and the Mint Museum. A prolific writer, Barnard has contributed to publications such as The Studio Potter, American Craft, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics—Art & Perception, Keramick, and The New Art Examiner since the early 1980s. He currently teaches ceramics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Barnard's practice spans both fine art and functional pottery, and he is known for experimenting with various materials and processes. His work typically blends abstract forms with rich textures and glazes, drawing attention to the interplay between the tactile and visual aspects of ceramics. His pieces often explore the relationship between surface and form, with an emphasis on the natural world and the way organic textures can be interpreted in clay.
In addition to creating his own works, Barnard has been involved in teaching and mentoring other artists, further contributing to the ceramic community. His work has been exhibited in galleries across the UK and internationally, and his pieces are part of both private and public collections.
Barnard’s ceramics reflect a deep respect for the materiality of clay, as well as a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what ceramics can express, both as functional objects and as fine art.