Barbara Grena grew up in Long Island City, NY, and studied art at Newtown High School in Jackson Heights, Queens. Her father and maternal grandfather, who were fantastic artists, influenced her. After high school, she was pushed in many directions and worked a few years in photography and commercial art. In the early 70s, Barbara received a Fine Arts Certificate from the Washington University of Art in Chicago, Illinois, and later studied Communication Design at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey.
Barbara has had numerous shows including one-woman shows at the Guild of Creative Art, the Ocean County Artist Guild, the Little Silver Borough Hall, and Georgian Court College. She has exhibited at the Lever House Gallery, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the Pastel Society of America (P.S.A.), and Salmagundi Club, all in New York City. Her artwork has been included in juried exhibitions such as at the Monmouth Museum, the Monmouth Festival of the Arts, and the Pastel Society of America. In July 2004, her pastel “In Honor of All the Heroes” was accepted for the exhibition entitled “American Dreams Post 9/11” at the Salmagundi Club. She also received letters from former Mayor Giuliani and Mayor Bloomberg thanking her for the moving depiction of the September 11th tragedy. Her art is also included in many private and corporate collections.