Barron Storey: REvisitation

VOlume II • September 20–November 1, 2025

We’re excited to welcome the legendary Barron Storey back to the gallery for Revisitation Volume II.

Revisitation surveys a decades-broad spectrum of work born from the artist’s lifelong practice of deeply empathetic observation. Crafted with impeccable draftsmanship and his distinctive layering of media, Storey’s intricate works reward careful attention. The work consistently functions as a narrative, drawing viewers into a dialogue with both obvious and subtle elements woven throughout his images. With this collection, Storey examines religion, condemns war, explores relationships, and compassionately explores human complexity.

Storey’s work reflects an ongoing attention to social issues in parallel with intensely vulnerable introspection. His art is an appeal to viewers to consider uncomfortable truths, and he advocates for a critical examination of the world. His layered palimpsest of mixed media, typography, and precise details create an intense experience that is deeply emotional and rich with constant discovery.

Through his singular visual language and persistent observation, Storey communicates a powerful critique of societal norms and injustices while also exploring the necessity of transformation, resilience, and the search for justice in an increasingly chaotic world. His art is not just a reflection of reality, but an ongoing documentation that elicits empathy for the varied layers of human experience. Revisitation II invites us to join Storey in his observations and consider our beautifully complex collective humanity together.

Barron Storey is an American illustrator, graphic novelist, and educator born in Dallas, Texas, in 1940. With a career that spans decades, Storey has made a profound impact in fine arts and illustration. Storey studied at the Art Center School in Los Angeles and the School of Visual Arts in New York under the mentorship of Robert Weaver, which set the foundation for his prolific career​​.

Storey’s work is characterized by its powerful and often dark themes, exploring human hope and despair, as well as societal issues such as war, homelessness, and suicide through his distinctive visual style. His illustrations have graced the covers of major publications such as Time, National Geographic, and Reader’s Digest. Notable works include his iconic drawings for Neil Gaiman’s "The Sandman: Endless Nights," which earned him an Eisner Award​​. In 2023, Storey was inducted into The Society of Illustrators hall of fame. Storey's works are held in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, the Metropolitan Opera, and the American Natural History Museum.

In addition to his commercial success, Storey is renowned for his contributions to education, having taught at prestigious institutions like the School of Visual Arts, Pratt Institute, California College of the Arts, and San Jose State University. Artists including Kent Williams, David Choe, John Copeland and Madeline von Foerster are among his generations of students.