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ARTIST STATEMENT:
Fixed on a portrayal of longing and a passionate desire to journey beyond the restrictive present, my figures embody the emotions of isolation and captivity tempered with the hope of escape. Appearing in a trance-like state of daydream absorbed by fanciful journeys, the figures are propelled into imaginative journeys as well as lives of personal completeness.
Have you ever been stuck somewhere when you dreamt of being somewhere else? A moment sitting in a quiet room in a comfortable chair starring out an open window or at the patterns of the ceiling, and your mind begins to drift. We have all had those moments. Those minutes virtually disappear when held captive in a daydream trance. My sculptures capture these glimpses of a daydream world where the chair becomes a vehicle that propels these figures into journeys taken to places that only the imagination can conjure up.
I invite the viewer to take a journey with I am a narrative artist that is in love with clay. Clay gives me the placidity to capture my thoughts when it is wet and permanency of the form when fired. My work is layered with meanings of who I am now and who I was. Using borrowed symbols from the Christian religion, other cultures visited in my travels, and those from history, I combine all to make my own personal symbolism. The female figure insignificantly important to the story-telling nature of my work. My mother was a professional clown as well as a seamstress. The costuming on the figures pays homage to her. Color is of the utmost significance in my work. The layering of bold, vibrant colors invites the viewer to take a closer look. Once captivated, the viewer is asked to look at the details. Next, the viewer is enticed to create a story of their own.
ARTIST BIO:
Originally from San Diego, California, Sharon moved to Monte Vista, CO in 1980 where she raised a family. She moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 2022 and married her childhood friend, Ed Albrektsen.
Sharon attended Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, and received both her BA and MA degrees. She began her studies at ASU in 1987 to learn how to work with clay and fell in love with its tactile quality.
Sharon earned her MFA at Fort Hays State University in Kansas.
Sharon leads workshops, presents lectures, exhibits her work in galleries and festivals and taught as an adjunct professor. She works as a studio artist in her Scottsdale studio as well as travels internationally as an Artist in Residence.
Sharon's artwork was chosen for the cover 2023 Hidden in the Hills Catalog for the Sonoran Art League studio tour. She was also on the cover of Images Magazine for November, 2023 Issue with her artwork.