An art student in the 1960s, Barbara Segal left New York for Paris in order to broaden the boundaries her education. Upon returning, Segal realized she had learned how to create art from technique to concept, a skill that she considers highly endangered in the modern art world. In her talk, Barbara explores the symbolism behind her own art, particularly her sensationalized sculptures of luxury items, including Chanel and Hermes bags. While a student at Pratt Institute, NY, Barbara Segal resolved to spend both her junior and senior years at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris to study stone carving with teachers like René Collamarini with whom she later exhibited at the Musée Rodin. Segal returned to New York City with the ability to create carve in stone, and America’s evolving culture with its pop and fashion icons would prove a continuing source of inspi- ration. In 2001, Segal won a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Arts for Transit commission and in 2004, two of her sculptures were installed on Metro North’s Yonkers station viaduct. Today, she teaches stone carving, and creates large sculptures, most well-known of which are her stone-carved Hermes Birkin Bags, which have gained much media attention in the past years. Her talk will follow her journey and discuss the symbolism behind carving such opulent accessories—like the Birkin Bag—and the weight with which our society holds them. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx