Barbara Sternberger was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1957. She studied painting at the University of California at Irvine, receiving her MFA in 1983. Sternberger has exhibited both regionally and nationally, and her paintings are included in numerous private and public collections. Her work is deeply influenced by tenets of Ch’an Buddhism and its relationship to painting - essence, truth, spirit resonance and breath.

Her work has been featured in the U.S. Art in Embassies Program and has been the subject of two solo museum exhibitions: at the Museum of Northwest Art and the Whatcom Museum. Long-time representation with Elizabeth Leach Gallery in Portland, OR who will present their tenth solo exhibit of Sternberger’s work early in 2023.