Barry Elz

Barry Elz, a renowned photographer and fine artist, has photographed some of the most famous faces in the world, including super models and top professional athletes. His illustrious photographic career, studios in NYC and Chicago, and national campaigns spanning over four decades, has greatly influenced his perception of the significance of light, perspective and composition which is reflected both in his photography and his oil paintings. While photography has been his career, oil painting is his true passion. Barry’s paintings have been placed in numerous corporate locations and in private homes across the United States.

Barry’s oil paintings are a contemporary interpretation of impressionist American artists from the early 1900s. His goal is to inspire peace and gratefulness for all of nature’s amazing gifts. “Painting is my natural course, it is my commitment and fulfillment, as I have always been intrigued by the opportunity to present a moment of creation.”

Barry’s extensive commercial fashion and sports photographic career started in St. Louis working for United Press International Sports. His studios were primarily located in NYC and Chicago, creating over five decades of national campaigns for clientele including; Nike, Gatorade, Callaway Golf and professional Sports teams; St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bulls, which led to the publishing of his New York Times Best Seller Book in 1998. He was commissioned to photograph Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and all of the players during their NBA Championships. Numerous notable athletes including – Rod Laver, Jack Niklaus, Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Thomas, Walter Payton, Stan Musial, Tom Seaver, Willie Stargel, Barry Sanders, Hank Aaron, Shaquille O’Neal, Nolan Ryan, Mike Tyson, and Mathew Stafford.                  

He has photographed iconic models including Cindy Crawford, Kathy Ireland and many other cover girl models for fashion clients, which were published in national publications including Vogue, Town and Country, Elle, Harpers Bizarre, Time Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Rolling Stone.

What makes it art? According to Barry, “Remaining open to what may occur during the experimental process...all painters, I believe, have a natural developed stroke and flow to their work, but the unplanned human element is what creates painterly and singular artwork.”

Below is a small sampling of a larger library of artwork.