Key Dates, Collaborations and Exhibitions
1963 - Barry is born in Essex, Harlow. He is the last of eight children.
1980 - Barry studies Art at Cambridge College of Art. Together with his brother Nick Kamen, Barry meets stylist Ray Petri, founder of the Buffalo movement. Barry and Nick Kamen become models, muses and collaborators of the Buffalo crew, along with Naomi Campbell, Neneh Cherry, photographers Roger Charity, Mark Lebon and Jamie Morgan, Talisa Soto and others. During this time, Barry works with John Galliano as he establishes his brand, before Galliano’s move to Paris in 1988.
1984 - Barry and Nick Kamen appear in the iconic edition of The Face magazine, styled by Ray Petri. Barry appears in many seminal BodyMap shows from 1984 as model and collaborator.
1985 - Barry goes to Tokyo and begins working with Rei Kawakubo for Commes des Garçons, producing sketches and design material. As a model, Barry walks for Commes des Garçons with Jean-Michel Basquiat.
1986 - Barry assists Helmut Lang on his first four shows in Paris, including his first collection launched at the Centre Georges Pompidou. During this year he also works with Jean-Paul Gaultier on his inaugural show in Paris.
1989 - Ray Petri dies . Barry has his first major solo show as an artist, in Jean-Paul Gaultier’s studio in Paris, under the exhibition title ‘Treasure’. The sold-out exhibition receives a lot of press attention. Barry appears in Neneh Cherry’s era-defining music video for her single ‘Manchild’, styled by Judy Blame. He also designs the album cover for UB40’s hit album ‘Labour of Love II’.
1990 - Barry designs album covers for UB40 album ‘Homely Girl’ and four Nick Kamen singles. Barry has his first gallery show at Gallerie Vivienne, Paris, also under the exhibition title ‘Treasure’.
1991 - Barry begins his first major body of mature, abstract canvasses with the title ‘Caged Waits’. This same year, Barry is flown to New York to design the cover for Diana Ross’ album ‘The Force Behind the Power’.
1995 - Barry exhibits the “Caged Waits’ series in Bearspace, London. Many canvasses are sold; buyers include Helmut Lang, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Tatjana Patitz and others.
1997 - Barry is commissioned to make a backing film for the Rolling Stones. He also is commissioned to make films for Elton John, Diana Ross, Oasis, Aerosmith and Peter Beard. Barry begins work on another major series, under the title of ‘and’, painting large and small scale works based on drawings of his own left hand.
2001 - Barry is chosen to exhibit work from his ‘SHOULD’ series as part of the groundbreaking ‘ARTTUBE 01’ exhibition on the Piccadilly Line, London. Other exhibiting artists include Yoko Ono, Gavin Turk, Vivienne Westwood, Juergen Teller, and Damian Hurst; all giants of contemporary art and design.
2002 - Barry’s art film ‘patRIOT’ is exhibited as part of the prestigious Polstar Art programme in Leicester Square, London. He designs the album cover for Nick Kamen’s album ‘Whatever Whenever’.
2004 - Barry is appointed Freelance Art and Fashion Director for PEN Magazine, Tokyo (until 2007).
2006 - Barry begins work on his major portraiture series under the title of ‘Is Is It’. He will continue to work on this series until 2011.
2009 - Barry begins to work as a consultant for PUMA. He also styles the influential 'Monarchy in the UK' series, shot by Jamie Morgan, for Arena Homme+ magazine (Fall/Winter 2009).
2011 - Barry begins work on his ‘Plaster’ series, using adhesive plasters as canvasses for portraits and other themes.
2012 - Barry is part of the PUMA styling team that designs Usain Bolt and the Jamaican team’s kit for the London Olympics 2012.
2015 - Barry collaborates with Takeo Kikuchi on his 2015 collection together with stylist Harris Elliot. In October 2015, Barry passes away in his studio whilst painting, as a result of a rare and undetectable heart condition.
2022 - The Barry Kamen Estate is founded by Tatiana Strauss-Kamen as Executive Director, alongside Glen Erler as Director and Florence Woodfield Morais as Curator and Associate Director.
2023 - Christie’s London place Barry Kamen’s canvas in a public auction for the first time. Barry’s work is included in other group shows in major UK institutions, including Somerset House (‘Missing Threads’) and V&A Dundee (‘Everything but the Clothes’)
2024 - A group of Barry's works travel to Japan for his first posthumous exhibition in Japan entitled 'Barry Kamen: Is Is It And' at Lurf Gallery (Tokyo) and later at Estnation (Tokyo), with an accompanying clothing capsule based on the artist's own designs.
2025 - Barry's work gains unprecedented interest as his first major solo exhibition opens at Graces Mews, London, to coincide with ten years since his passing. The exhibition, led by previously unseen film works restored and curated by Frank Lebon, receives press attention from The Face, Monocle, System Magazine, among others.