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Collectable License Plates • Vintage Items • Unique Art
License Plate Garage Art Studio
Original Works of Art, One of Kind Creations, Upcycled Works, Man Cave / She Shed Decor and More from our own
License Plate Gal here at License Plate Garage --
Barb Sistak Baur
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About the Artist Barb and her husband, Tom, have operated their online business of selling vintage license plates since 2001. Working in the garage and surrounded by so much metal material, Barb was inspired to start working with the old license plates to create her works. A longtime admirer of metal works, she experimented and developed her technique of distressing, altering, manipulating or cutting old metal and then re-combining the pieces into meaningful, expressive ideas. She has spent much of her artist’s career working with various materials as part of her ongoing investigation of textures and surfaces. This satisfies her desire to move beyond the flat surface. Barb began her art career as single mom scratching a latent inch. With no previous background in painting or drawing, she filled the late night and weekend hours with the meaningful activity of teaching herself the basics. She turned to serious study with valued instructors, mentors and competed in the art program at Columbia College, Columbia, MO. She has participated in and continues to study in various workshops. Here work has been shown throughout the Midwest, including past exhibitions in the Woman Made Gallery, the Chicago Art Open, Women’s Works Exhibitions, the Art Center of Highland Park, Zhou B Art Center, Bridgeport Art Center, Village of Algonquin Public Art Program, Gold Coast Art Festival and the 57th Street Art Fair among others. Her work is in many private, public and corporate collections.
Notable Collections Adrain College, Caine Student Center, Adrian, MI Smokin BBQ Resturant, Mundelein, IL Little Gallery Frame Shop, Kansas City, MO Wilfried Schütz Collection, Germany Uncle John’s Pancake House, Toledo, OH Epic Systems, Verona, WI Algonquin Public Library, Algonquin, IL Kenosha Art Museum, Kenosha, WI McHenry County Public Art Collection, Woodstock, IL … and in many private homes Notable Events Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists Members Show, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL Jan-March 2025 4th Fridays Art Event at the Dole, Nancy Merkle Productions, Crystal lake, Il Sept 2024 Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists Member Show, North Shore Art League, Winnetka, IL Aug-Sept 2024 Route 66 Exhibition, McClean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL Jul-Aug 2024 Sculpture at the Kavanagh, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St Charles, IL Jun-Jul 2024 Later Impressions 2024 Exhibition, Chicago Allliance of Visual Artists, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL June-July 2024 Stars and Stripes: Artistic Dialogues on the American Flag, Hickman Gallery, Adrian College, Adrian, MI May-July 2024 4th Fridays Art Event at the Dole, Nancy Merkle Productions, Crystal lake, Il Jun 2024 4th Fridays Starline Galleries, Starline Factory Artists, Starline Factory, Harvard,IL Jun 2024 4th Fridays Art Event at the Dole, Nancy Merkle Productions, Crystal lake, Il Apr 2024 Winter Exhibition 2024, Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL Jan-Mar 2024 At Home, Norris Cultual Arts Center, St Charles, IL Jan 2024 Later Impressions, Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL Nov-Deb 2023 Lure of the Local, Mundelein Arts Commission, Mundelein, IL Oct 2023 What Does Freedom Look Like, The Art Center Highland Park, Highland Park, IL March 2023 Embracing Texture, Norris Cultural Art Center, St Charles, IL Jan 2023 Spring Break Out, Studio 2909 Members Show, Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock, IL 4th Fridays Starline Galleries, Starline Factory Artists, Starline Factory, Harvard, IL June 2022 Multi-Plicity, Tall Grass Gallery, Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest, IL Jun-Jul 2022 Women’s Works 34th Anniversary, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Jun 2021 4th Friday Starline Galleries, Starline Factory Artists, Starline Factory, Harvard,IL Mar 2021 Bakery Collection, Independent Exhibition, Spring Meadows Dining Room, Libertyville, IL 2019 Metal Works, Independent Exhibition, The Garlands Gallery, Barrington, IL Nov 2018 Public Art Program, Village of Algonquin,IL 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2006, 2005 Sentiments, The Dole Mansion, Crystal Lake, IL Dec 2014 4th Fridays Art Event at the Dole, Nancy Merkle Productions, Crystal lake, Il Aug 2013 Riverside Village Hall Exhibition, Individual Exhibition, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL 2013 Gallery of Delectable Delights, Independent Exhibition, Chicago Artists Month, Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, Chicago, Nov 2012 Art Calendar, Northwest Area Arts Council, Woodstock, IL 2012 Raue Center of the Arts, Lobby Exhibition, Crystal Lake, IL Jan 2012 Art Calendar, Northwest Area Arts Council, Woodstock, IL 2011 Art by the Lake, Studio Exhibition and Sale, Island Lake, IL Aug 2022 Riverside Arts Center Invitational, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL Jul 2011 Abstractions, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL Jun 2011 Women’s Works, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Mar 2011 Riverside Public Library Exhibition, Individual Exhibition, Riverside, IL Jan 2011 Chicago Art Open, Chicago Artist’s Coalition, Chicago, IL Oct 2010 Riverside Village Hall Exhibition, Individual Exhibition, Riverside Arts Center, Riverside, IL Apr 2009 Real People, Figurative Art League, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL Aug 2008, Aug 2009 Fresh Express Cafe, Individual Exhibition, Fresh Express, Riverside, IL Apr 2008 Kenosha Public Museum Art Festival, Purchase Award, Kenosha, WI Jul 2008 Women’s Works, Juried by Beate Minkovski, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Jul 2008 Curves, Individual Exhibition, Curves, Island Lake, Aug 2007 Woman Made Gallery Holiday Bazaar, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL Dec 2007 Chicago Art Open, Chicago Artist’s Coalition, Iron Studios, Chicago, IL Oct 2007 Outside My Window, McHenry County, IL, Curated by Lynn Carlson, Nov 2007 Sweeter by the Dozen, Individual Exhibition, Curated by Lynn Carlson, Luna Cafe, Crystal Lake, IL Sept 2007 Women’s Works, Juried by Judy Chicago, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Feb 2007 Woman Made Gallery, Annual Members Show, Chicago, IL Aug 2006 Strings ’n Things, Norris Cultural Art Center, St Charles, IL Aug 2006 Northwest Area Arts Council, Members Show, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Nov 2005 Real People, Figurative Art League, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Aug 2005 Women’s Works, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Feb 2003 Women’s Works, Northwest Area Arts Council, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock, IL Feb 2001 Columbia College (MO) Show, McHenry County College, McHenry, IL Jul 1999 Columbia College (MO) Show, Honorable Mention, Crystal Lake Country Club. Crystal Lake, IL May 1998 Columbia College (MO) Show, Honorable Mention, McHenry County College, McHenry, IL Jul 1997 McHenry County Fair, 2nd Place, Art Exhibition, Woodstock, IL Aug 1997