Helen Grace Barndt

Artist, Helen Grace Barndt or H.G. Barndt, (b.12/11/1928) passed away peacefully on November 25, 2021, at the age of 92 years.

Born in Santa Rosa, California, Helen began at a young age to develop artistically. After graduating from Santa Rosa High School, Helen studied at the Chicago Art Institute. She was especially attracted to Egyptian, Pompeian and Asian influences and was greatly inspired by masters of the Italian Renaissance, Ruebens, and later John Singer Sargent. Helen continued her studies at the California Art League and the San Francisco Academy of Art under the tutelage of contemporary Italian Master painters where she eventually taught as well. "Art for me is a way of life. The most important thing about it is to understand that artistic expression is a process that has a simple beginning and absolutely no end. Somewhere along the way a loveliness of personal style emerges which encourages nothing else but the continuing journey.” She greatly admired and found inspiration in more recent contemporaries Daniel Merriam, Gary Staab, Daniel Sprick, James Gurney and Quang Ho.

Helen was an active artist her entire life. "My mother and I were at the World's Fair in San Francisco and entered the Art building which was housing a show of selected Rembrandt drawings and paintings. The show also included Botticelli's Birth of Venus. I was a young girl at the time and I stood in that room breathing the breath of the masters. I was completely transfixed. I had never seen anything like it before and I knew from that moment on I would dedicate myself to a life of art."

In the late 1960’s through the early 1990's Helen was commissioned by founder and director Dr. J. Trenton Tully to create murals and paintings for the Metaphysical Research Society, Denver, Colorado. 

In 1993, Helen began working at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science as a volunteer. She initially worked in the Foregrounds Department, cutting and painting leaves for the Prehistoric Journey exhibition. After her artistic talents became known, she quickly moved to the Taxidermy Department, providing realistic paintings of prehistoric animal models. Helen spent the following decades working as a contract artist for the DMNS Exhibition Department. Exhibition design staff and curators alike, appreciated her masterful skills, creativity, and professionalism. Helen was a mentor to many. Her colorful and creative presence was always welcomed in the Exhibits Department. 

In addition to the Prehistoric Journey exhibition, her creative contributions included painted murals and Illustrations for the permanent exhibitions: Egyptian Mummies, and Botswana Hall and temporary exhibitions included: Imperial Tombs of China, Quest for Immortality, Vikings, A Day in Pompeii, and Mummies: New Secrets of the Tombs (2016)

Oftentimes, Helen could be found in the Zoology Collections Department, sketching and studying skulls and bones for hours, at her own special table. She had her own special supply cart and drawer in the Exhibitions Department. Dedicated to art and culture, Helen loved her association with and contributions to the Museum. 

Helen was listed in many earlier editions of Great Women Artists: The 400 Most Important Female Artists Over the Last 500 Years, copyrighted 25 works of art and was shown at a number of prestigious Denver art galleries. She contributed pieces of art to children’s charity group fundraisers including Very Special Arts (VSA) Colorado’s Access Gallery for Disabled Children. She was an active member of the Art Students League of Denver in her 70’s and 80’s. 

Helen devoted herself, heart, and soul, to artistic development. She painted and accepted commissions until just weeks prior to her passing. She never married, had children or even learned how to drive. For over fifty years, she was an intrinsic part of the landscape of her Capitol Hill neighborhood walking or riding her bike, her bike basket full of art supplies or groceries. Helen leaves behind many admirers and friends who adored and loved her moxie, talent, and fun, saucy, direct personality.