Robert Smith & José Bayro C.’s “Parallel Origins” Exhibition to Open at Barton Art Galleries

Barton Art Galleries in Wilson, North Carolina, will open "Parallel Origins: From Distant Roots to Shared Worlds" on February 5, 2026, featuring works by Robert Smith and José Bayro C. The exhibition runs through March 13 and pairs two artists who share a studio in Puebla, Mexico, but present distinct bodies of work exploring memory, material, and personal history. It marks Barton College's first dual-artist residency, during which Smith and Bayro will collaborate with students in the "Studio Concepts" course, lead community workshops, and engage in open studio sessions and interdisciplinary conversations.