2023


Paints in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Austria
Included in Presidential White House Holiday Card Commissions Exhibition at White House

2022


First museum exhibition of oil paintings, Nassau Museum, NY.
Paints in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado National Parks.
Honoree, Nassau County Museum of Art.

2021


Returns to exhibit and paint in the Eastern End of Long Island.
Paints in Italy.

2020


Works on Quarantine series.
Gallantly Streaming on exhibit at the United States Mission to the United Nations.

2019


Paints in Italy, Martinique, Greece.

2018


Painting Fibonacci’s Workshop enters the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.
Paints in Switzerland and France.

2017


Unveiling of the museum commission MASS MoCA Building 6, 8 feet by 15 feet.
Paints in Scotland and France.

2016


Commissioned by Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) to paint the world’s largest watercolor for the opening of their new
Building 6. Read more here.
Paints in England, Ireland and Switzerland.

2015


Paints in France and Germany.
Appointed to first ever Colonial Williamsburg Art Museum Board.

2014


Returns to oil painting, continues watercolors and drawing.
Paints in Switzerland, Peru and Israel.

2013


Painting Hydrangeas enters Bush Presidential Library, TX.
Adjunct Faculty, Williams College, Williamstown, MA (2013 - present).
Paints in Turks & Caicos and Switzerland.

2012


Paints in the Czech Republic and Germany.

2011


NASA Art: 50 Years opens at the Smithsonian National Air and Space.
Museum including the NASA commissioned painting of the x-43.
Honoree, The Heckscher Museum of Art Gala.
Paints in Switzerland and Italy.

2010


Honoree, The Raynham Hall Museum Gala.
Included in NASA Art:50 Years celebration of NASA’s 50th anniversary organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services and
the Smithsonian.
National Air and Space Museum features 75 artworks including x-43, the fastest aircraft in the world.
Exhibition travels to twelve U.S. museums.

2009


New York Historical Society adds Patriot from the 9/11 series to their collection.
Paints in France.

2008-present


Appointed by the President and approved by the Senate to the National Council on the Arts, the advisory board to the National Endowment for the Arts- Members are appointed for their distinguished service or achievement in the arts.
NASA commissioned paintings of the x-43 and The Columbia Tribute (on exhibition at the Kennedy Space Center) are included in the new book NASA/Art: 50 Years of Exploration (Harry Abrams).
The U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies Program adds 30 prints to their Embassy and Consulate collections including Abu Dhabi, Athens, Baghdad, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Caracas, Lima, Madrid, Mexico City, Rangoon, Seoul and Tunis.

2008


An American View: Barbara Ernst Prey Exhibition, The Mona Bismarck Foundation Paris, France curated by Sarah Cash, National Gallery of Art.
Painting Family Portrait enters the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Museum.
Painting Wayfarers enters the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

2007


Fourth NASA commissioned painting the Shuttle Discovery Return to Flight.
Paints the fastest aircraft in the world at Edwards Airforce Base.
Paints in Greece, Italy and Croatia.
Lectures at U.S. Embassy France, “Thoughts on American Landscape Painting from Sargent to Hopper” with Curator Sarah Cash, National Gallery of Art.

2006


Invited by the Ambassadors to France and also the Ambassador to Spain to lecture at the opening of their Embassy’s Art Collections, U.S. State Department Art in Embassies Program. 
God and Country on exhibit in Paris with paintings by American artists Homer and Sargent. 
Seven paintings from the 9/11 series are on exhibition at the U.S. Embassy Residence Madrid.
Invited to lecture about American paintings at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.
Paints in England.

2005


Commissioned by NASA to paint the official painting for the Shuttle Discovery Return to Flight.
Lectures at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. for the Winslow Homer exhibition.
Completes third NASA commission of the x-43 the fastest aircraft in the world.

2004


Awarded the New York State Senate’s “Women of Distinction Award” joining awardees Eleanor Roosevelt and Susan B. Anthony.
Painting The Diplomatic Reception Room, The White House (2003) enters The White House permanent collection.
One of two living female artists in the White House permanent collection.
Invited by U.S. Ambassador to Norway John Ong to present a symposium Businesses Supporting the Arts for the Norwegian Business Community in Oslo.
Third NASA commissioned painting, x-43.

2003


Commissioned by United States President and Mrs. George Bush to paint the official White House Christmas Card.
Second NASA commissioned painting, The Columbia Tribute unveiled at the Columbia Anniversary Dinner, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
Reunion at Dusk on exhibit at the U.S. Embassy Residence, Prague.
Lecture to the Czech Cultural Community.

2002


First of four NASA commissioned paintings, The International Space Station. NASA commissions contemporary American artists to document space history.
Painting Walkers Point on exhibition at the White House (through 2008).

2001


Works on 9/11 series.


1996


Moves to Oyster Bay, NY.

1988


Moves to Prosperity, PA (until 1996).

1987


Returns to U.S. lives and works in Greenwich, CT.
First sold-out New York City exhibition.

1986-1987


Henry Luce Foundation Grant, Luce Scholar, Visiting Lecturer Western Christian Art, Tainan, Taiwan. Awarded annually to 18 future leaders.
Paints in Asia.
Exhibitions in Taipei, Taiwan.
Starts to paint large-scale, on-site watercolors.
Studies Chinese painting with Master Chinese painter.

1986


Masters Degree, Harvard University.
Teaching Assistant, Harvard University.

1981


Begins illustrations for the New Yorker, New York Times, Gourmet and Good Housekeeping Magazines among others.
Works in the Modern Painting Department at Sotheby’s in New York, NY.

1980


Paints in Africa.
Personal Assistant Prince Albrecht Castell-Castell, Germany (until 1981).
First European Exhibition, Castell Bank Exhibition, Germany.

1979


Metropolitan Museum of Art Summer Internship, New York, NY.
Fulbright Scholarship University of Würzburg, Germany.
Baroque Art and Architecture nominated by Williams College.
Paints in Europe.


1975-1979


Graduates from Williams College with honors in Art History, mentored by Lane Faison. Graduate courses Clark Art Institute.
Junior Year abroad, University of Munich, Germany.

1975


Lives and paints in Bötersen, Germany.
Attends Williams College, Williamstown, MA.
Governor Hugh Carey of New York purchases oil painting.

1974


Awarded a summer scholarship to the San Francisco Art Institute, CA.
Begins to paint watercolors.

1957


Born, New York City.
Mother Peggy Ernst artist and head of Design Department at Pratt Art Institute.