
Barry Underwood, born in 1963 in Wilmington, Delaware, is a contemporary artist known for his innovative fusion of photography and sculpture. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Creative Workforce Fellowship through the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (Ohio), the Cleveland Arts Prize for Visual Arts, and the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award.
Underwood creates long-exposure photographic images that feature sculptural installations built directly within natural landscapes. Using light sources such as LED lights and luminescent materials, he constructs geometric and often surreal forms that momentarily transform these environments. His works highlight the tension between the natural world and human intervention, with a particular focus on drawing attention to environmental degradation or blight.

Personally, I see Barry Underwood’s practice as a compelling combination of sculpture and staged photography. His installations are visually striking and immersive, often appearing otherworldly. Yet beyond their aesthetic appeal, they carry layered meanings—emphasizing the contrast between the artificial and the organic, and challenging viewers to reflect on human impact on the environment.
His work is deeply inspiring, not only because of the environmental message he conveys but also because it expands the possibilities of combining physical installation with photographic art. It opens up a whole new way of thinking about how sculptural elements can be used to shape and redefine photographic storytelling.

中文版本:
巴里·安德伍德(Barry Underwood),1963年出生于美国特拉华州威明顿,是一位当代艺术家,以将摄影与雕塑巧妙结合的作品而闻名。他曾获得多个重要奖项,包括俄亥俄州社区艺术与文化合作组织颁发的创意劳动力奖学金(Creative Workforce Fellowship)、克利夫兰视觉艺术奖(Cleveland Arts Prize for Visual Arts),以及俄亥俄艺术委员会个人卓越奖(Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award)。
安德伍德以长时间曝光的摄影作品著称,这些影像记录了他在特定自然景观中搭建的雕塑装置。他利用LED灯和发光材料等光源,在森林、湖边、山谷等场域中构建出几何形态的光线结构,使这些环境呈现出超现实、异化的视觉效果。他的创作旨在借助这些外来元素,呼应并揭示环境破坏与人类干预的现象。
在我看来,安德伍德的作品是雕塑与舞台式摄影的完美结合。这些装置本身极具视觉冲击力,观感迷人,但更重要的是,它们背后所承载的意义——光的“入侵”与自然的“受创”之间的关系——促使人们反思人与环境的互动方式。
他的作品对我启发颇深,不仅在于艺术家赋予作品的理念,更在于他将空间装置与摄影艺术有机结合,开辟了一种全新的艺术表达路径,也让我对摄影与雕塑的跨界融合有了全新的思考。