Cassandra Christensen Barney was born and raised in Orem, Utah. She received

her Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Brigham Young University in 2000. “I've

had a passion for the craft of the portrait since I was a child. As a young

girl, I visited museums around the world with my father, collecting postcards

adorned with 16th century art. Exploring these simple images captured my

imagination, unlocking a world of discovery. I love the art of storytelling,

the layers of symbolism, and would create my own stories of these quiet women,

making the paintings my own. Today I paint portraits that share my passion for

storytelling while revealing my personal journey of transition and discovery.”

Christensen Barney’s images capture the souls of heroines, everyday women who

have found strength and personal victory in their diverse experiences. Her

portraits carry a range of emotion reflective of the events that have shaped

their character. Ambiguous and poignant, Cassandra’s women find strength in

their femininity. “They are beautiful and strong, because of the complexity of

their feminine nature”

“My portraits may not always feature the outwardly pretty or majestic, but

they all share a quiet beauty that asks us to listen and to feel. My work

reflects my personal narrative, yet my intent as an artist is to create an

experience that will allow the viewers to bring new interpretations to the

symbols, creating their own narrative and own sense of understanding and

place.”

Christensen Barney and her father, James C. Christensen, delight in working

together. “My Dad inspires me to experiment with my own style, media and

interpretation. Painting together in his studio, we have developed a wonderful

synergy, critiquing each other and encouraging each other to experiment with

colors, surfaces and textures.”

Life is truly art at Christensen Barney’s home as her husband is also an

artist and teacher. Her three daughters enjoy creating along side their

parents. In addition to her children, Barney encourages many others to explore

the world of art. She taught at The Waterford School for four years and part

time at BYU. The Barney family will relocate to Vancouver, Canada this fall

where her husband Dan will pursue his doctorate in curriculum studies at UBC.