A Museum Director's Love of Art

Foster's nationally-acclaimed painting, "Stephan."

This is Barrie Foster’s painting titled “Stephan.” It has been accepted into the upcoming Watercolor Society's Aqueous USA National Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky!

Barrie Foster has been the Director of the Tipton County Museum, Veterans’ Memorial, and Nature Center since August of 2014. However, that is far from all she does. Foster has always had a deep love for art, which began when she moved to a small farm in Tipton County in 1998. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 1981 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree and received her Master of Business Administration Degree from the University in Phoenix in 1994. She has also studied art under Frank Sher and Fred Rawlinson in Memphis, and has studied foreign language at the University of Memphis and even went on to study abroad - she studied Italian language and culture at the University of Bologna in Italy in 2013. She has a love for teaching art, as well, and acted as the Gallery Curator for the Historic Ruffin Theater in Covington, Tennessee from 2006 to 2008. In 2007, she also founded the Tipton Art League.

Foster's painting, "Porta San Mamolo," was accepted in the 2015 Kentucky Watercolor Society's Acqueous USA Exhibition.

Foster has both a love and talent for art. Her unique style of painting in watercolors sets her apart from the rest, and she has held several solo exhibits and has won many regional and national awards for her work. Her work has been exhibited at the Covington Campus of Dyersburg State Community College, as well as at the Nashville office of the Tipton County legislature representative.

Her genuine love of art has shaped how she directs the Museum, as well. Since being enacted President, she has formed many programs, such as the “Veteran of the Month” and “Fall Gardening Series.” Among these are also art-related programs, such as “Artist in Residence” and an “Artist Series for Kids.”