Local Artist and Retired UNO Professor to Debut New Exhibition

October 8th, 2024

Barbara Simcoe, Professor Emerita from the UNO School of the Arts, has dedicated her life to art, a passion that began long before her professional career. She was drawn to the canvas from a young age, nurtured by parents who encouraged her and her sister’s artistic ambitions. She recalls her childhood home as a “creative place” where artistic expression was always supported.

Simcoe’s journey into the world of art wasn’t born from a structured plan but from an internal drive. “It’s all impulse,” she says, reflecting on her passion for painting. Her early career brought her to Omaha, where she was drawn by job opportunities. In 1995, she first visited UNO as a guest artist, filling in for a professor preparing to retire. By 1998, Simcoe was officially hired and signed on for what was initially a ten-year stint, though it became a lasting part of her life.

While teaching at UNO, Simcoe exhibited her work nationally and internationally, balancing her academic role with a thriving art career. Last year marked her final year as a professor, and she is now embracing the freedom to focus solely on her art, though she admits the adjustment is still sinking in.

Simcoe’s upcoming exhibition, “Transits,” will showcase her artistic evolution over the years. The exhibition opens on Monday, October 14, at the UNO Art Gallery, located in the Weber Fine Arts Building, and will run until November 8. Visitors can learn more by visiting the UNO Art Gallery website or BarbaraSimcoe.com.