Breach, from Duplicity - Available in 4 sizes
Barbara Cole’s Duplicity series is a study on how reflection—our own, and others’—reimagines its subject. In this body of work, Cole explores the concept of what she calls a “figurative kaleidoscope,” in which mirrors extend and alter our visual field. While the mirror multiplies beauty of the beholder, it also creates an “other.” In play between romance and drama, Duplicity reveals the veiled meaning suggested by its title: an enigmatic encounter with a mysterious self-image.
Barbara Cole is an award-winning Canadian fine art photographer celebrated for her ethereal, painterly imagery and timeless visual language that blur the boundaries between photography, painting, and sculpture. Her distinctive style often featuring submerged figures, flowing fabrics, and soft, diffused light evokes themes of transformation, memory, and the natural world.
Based in Toronto, Cole has built an international reputation through decades of acclaimed work in fine art. Her large-scale installations and commissions include prominent public spaces such as the atrium of the M. Lau Breast Cancer Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital, where her immersive imagery enhances architectural environments with a sense of calm and reflection. Her renowned Underworld series has been exhibited globally, including at Canadian Embassies in Tokyo and Washington, D.C., further solidifying her presence on the international stage.
Cole’s practice has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Grand Prize at the Festival International de la Photographie de Mode in Cannes and honors at the International Photography Awards in New York. Her work has also been featured in the documentary series Snapshot: The Art of Photography II, highlighting her unique creative process and influence within the field of contemporary photography.
Collected by major institutions and private collectors worldwide, Barbara Cole’s photographs offer a rare combination of technical mastery and emotional resonance. Each piece invites viewers into a tranquil, otherworldly space.
The artist's archival photographs are mounted to an archival substrate. Please contact the gallery regarding availability. Prices are subject to change as the editions sell out.
