ARTIST PROFILE

C. Apala Barclay was born in Paynesville, Liberia, West Africa, into a family of historians and politicians, making him curious about the world around him.  Apala began to artistically document what he had seen, primarily through sketches, using only dry clay and charcoal. It soon became apparent that Apala had a natural gift for drawing, and it became one of his most effective forms of communication.

Apala’s artistic skills were later enhanced in high school where he took several courses in drafting, in college where he studied architectural engineering, and through further training with expatriates and local artists living in Liberia. Once he came to the U.S., he trained at the Toledo Museum of Art and Davis College, where he studied interactive media. Apala has also worked as an artist, craftsman, and political cartoonist before and during the Liberian Civil War. Displaced from his homeland, Liberia, Apala continues to use his talent to tell his life story, and share his experiences.

Apala lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife and daughter. Apala’s interest in survival, healing, and helping others led him to the healthcare field. His current artwork reflects his civil war experience, his memories of painful and peaceful times, and his hope for genuine peace for all people everywhere. In Apala’s own words, “my joy, sorrows, and pains are best expressed on the canvas.”