Barbie as Inspiration …It’s all make believe!
March 21 – April 18, 2026
Curated by Mary Urbas
Barbie is the original dream girl. Barbie as Muse, has inspired these artists to create art that tugs at our childhood memories, are flights of fantasy and also provocative. Barbie has worn everything, been everywhere, and has taken up every career you could imagine… She is a pop culture icon.
As a child I would escape into the fantasy land of Playing Barbie; with her beautiful clothes, her dream houses, pools and her dream dates. Some women saw her an embodiment (pun intended) of their dream of beauty and glamor.
Personally, I wanted to “be” Barbie, not look like her. I was attracted to Barbie because she lived in southern California, had a pool in her backyard, and could swim and surf in the Pacific Ocean.
I grew up with Barbie and lived vicariously through her, as she navigated her endless career choices. She could be who ever she wanted! She started as a fashion model, and went on the become an
astronaut, a doctor, an officer in all four branches of the military, and eventually in 1992, a Presidential candidate.
While she has worldwide popularity, as I invited artists to participate, some shared fond childhood memories, their Barbie fantasies. Others voiced their distain about her unrealistic body image, sending the wrong message of what society expected or demanded of young girls.
Please join me and these invited artists, to see Barbie through our eyes.
I dedicate this show and decades of inspiration to my cousin Eric. He died of AIDS in the late 80’s , as did his soulmate Brian, I miss him terribly. A portion of my proceeds from sales will be donated to AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).
Inspiration for “Hot Pads”
In the late 80’s. My twin brother gifted me a Malibu Barbie at Christmas. I brought her with me on my first trip to Los Angeles (with my mom), for my cousin’s wedding. I took her to Venice Beach and photographed her on the sand, with her boombox. Photographing her was my way of capturing a moment without me being in it!
My mom accidentally packed my cousin Eric’s Barbie in her suitcase. When I helped her unpack and discovered that Barbie had been inadvertently kidnapped, I created a ransom note, and sent a color Xerox of her proof of life. A couple of years later, I returned to LA with Barbie and returned her to her rightful owner. I created a scenario where Barbie sought revenge on her kidnappers… that image was
incorporated into “Hot Pads” on display in this exhibition at elleven2.
The rest “as they say” is history!
Every adventure I went on, she accompanied me. I have photographed Barbie in front of Buckingham Palace, the beaches in the Bahamas, Florida and California. By far, my favorite images are from “our”
travels to my beloved Hawaiian Islands.
