John Barnes was born in the community of Bogalusa, Louisiana. When he was four, his family moved to Baton Rouge, where the public school system provided him with his earliest introduction to artmaking. Throughout his youth, he was drawing, but didn’t really imagine himself as an artist until he attended Southern A&M University as an art major. Barnes also attended Memphis College of Art for graduate study where he was awarded a Master’s of Fine Art degree in Sculpture. He began his academic career in New Orleans at Dillard University where he currently directs the Visual Arts program.

Barnes' work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and also in juried international biennials. His work is primarily wood, which he constructs into assemblages. Inspiration for his work is based on New Orleans and the Delta region as a whole. It is also influenced by local news reports that highlight issues such as gentrification, income inequity, racism, violence, and justice.