THE OBSIDIAN EMPIRE
Emerson Barrett creates artworks as artifacts of an inner world, rendered through ink, antique parchment, and oil paint with patience and ritual. His life is devoted to the study and discipline of the Old Masters, not as imitation, but as a living language through which memory, mythology, and emotion are given enduring form. The artwork exists outside of trend or era, created to be observed slowly, preserved in the mind, and carried forward as a legacy.
MODERN OLD MASTERS
The Forum Gardens
Antiquity Bridge
Apollo Courtyard
The Duomo
-
MODERN OLD MASTERS
A methodical alchemy of tradition and innovation, Modern Old Master bridges 17th-century etching techniques with modern tools like 3D modeling and pure obsession. Created between the ages of 24 and 28, this collection expands the visual narrative of Obsidian, presenting architectural blueprints and visual lore for an imagined empire. Each piece exemplifies the painstaking craft of layering physical and modern processes to capture the complexity of Obsidian’s history and its artistic grandeur.
VANDALIZED PORTRAITS
Depersonalization
Persona
The King's Head
Jewel Of Obsidian
-
VANDALIZED PORTRAITS
Set within the aftermath of Obsidian’s fall around 1747, this collection reimagines the once pristine portraits of rulers now defaced in the chaos of revolution. Vandalized Portraits combines oil painting and traditional techniques, turning destruction into an act of creation. The artwork serve as a visual metaphor for the cycle of power, rebellion, and renewal, embodying the raw emotion and shifting dynamics of Obsidian’s fractured empire. Created in 2022-2025, the collection ranges 7 pieces thus far.
THE SCROLLS
-
THE SCROLLS
A deeply introspective body of work created between the ages of 17 and 24, The Scrolls are expansive, hand-drawn pieces crafted in the Horror Vacui style. Using fine liner pens on parchment scrolls, these artworks document a period of personal struggle and artistic survival, with each piece embodying months of obsessive labor. The Scrolls serve as the foundation of a greater vision, exploring themes of isolation, imagination, and resilience, while laying the groundwork for the world of Obsidian.