Barbara McElheny’s formal art training began with art sessions at the Brooklyn Museum. She then went on to earn a BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and an MS in Early/Elementary Education. As an AMS certified Montessori teacher for the past 18 years, Barbara created an environment that supports developmentally age appropriate motor and social interactive skills. Her experience studying art and teaching young children provides a rich foundation for viewing life through an inventive lens. Observing the creative pull and energy that young children direct themselves is fascinating for her to watch unfold.

Barbara’s pastel and oil paintings create a narrative - inviting the viewer into landscapes with her figures. She has participated in various group and solo shows in New York and New Jersey.