Sharon James
A prism works because the distinct colours of light that travel at varying speeds inside the glass.
I perceive my work as these colours with each colour working well in isolation and when seen together creating a cohesive harmony, representing divergent aspects of my life and practice.
My life has always provided a rich seam which I have meticulously mined throughout my art career, recording moments of the present to create a physical living archive for my children.
Documenting my family history and our shared history. The intensity of these excavations needs to be sublimated. I achieve this by other voyages of discovery and different challenges, through exploring light, composition, and colour. This work can be abstract or figurative.
I learn valuable lessons from these visual expeditions. That in turn informs and enriches my figurative work, deepening my understanding of the possibilities of paint.
Working in this way enables synergy to take place, providing me with an integrated approach to my creative practice.
2020/Ongoing - Full Time Artist
2010/2020 - Curator/Owner at L'Artishe Gallery
1995-2010 - Lecturer in Art and Design Bournemouth and Poole College
1988-1991 - BA Hons Printmaking Loughborough School of Art 2:1
1992-1994 - MA Printmaking Camberwell School of Art
Exhibitions
2023 – JACKSON’S PAINTING PRIZE LONGLISTED
2023 – RED HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN EXHIBITION
2023 – FORMULA FOR CARE, TONIC GALLERY, ST JOHNS HOSPITAL
2023 – PRIDE IN ART EXHIBITION, CAPITAL GROUP, LONDON
2023 – THE VIRTUAL HIDDEN GALLERY ONLINE EXHIBITION
2022 – WORK SELECTED FOR SPILT MILK 2023 CALENDAR
2022 – PLAYING THE RACE CARD – BLACK HISTORY MONTH – ST LEONARDS
2022 – MOVEMENT – BLACK WOMEN ARTISTS – BLACK HISTORY MONTH – PECKHAM LONDON
2022 – PROJECT PROJECT – PERFORMANCE – SANDY HILLS STUDIOS – DORSET
2022 – BIRDBOX GALLERY ART TRAIL – CAMBRIDGE
2022 – WORK FEATURED ON GRAYSON’S ART CLUB
2022 – HOLLYBUSH PAINTING PRIZE LONGLISTED
2022 – RED HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN EXHIBITION
2022 – WINNER ABSTRACT OPEN ARTREPRENEUR
2022 – OPEN DOORS SOLO EXHIBITION OF WORK AT BOURNEMOUTH PAVILLION
2022 – JACKSON’S PAINTING PRIZE LONGLIST
2021 – PROJECT: PROJECT LIVE PERFORMANCE AS PART OF PLANET PURBECK FESTIVAL
2021 – PLAYING THE RACE CARD ONLINE EXHIBITION
2021 – EXPRESSIONS OF FREEDOM SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, MATTHEWS YARD
2021 – ELEMENTS, BLACK ABSTRACT ARTISTS OPEN ONLINE EXHIBITION
2021 – ELEMENTS – SNAPSHOT EXHIBITION KENSAL CANALSIDE, WEST LONDON
2021 – BLACK LIVES MATTERS SELECTED ONLINE GROUP EXHIBITION
2021 – AWAITING VOICES SELECTED ONLINE GROUP EXHIBITION
2019 – WORK SELECTED FOR WE ARE SWEET ‘ART EXHIBTION
2019 – SHORTLISTED FOR THE EVOLVER PRIZE COMPETITION, THELMA HULBERT GALLERY
2018 – ART AT SEA, SELECTED GROUP SHOW BARFLEUR, CONDOR FERRIES
2017 – MOTH MIGRATION EXHIBITION, GROUP SHOW, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA
2017 – VERGES EXHIBITION, SELECTED GROUP SHOW RSPB ARNE.
2017 – SOMETHING NEW, SOLO EXHIBITION AT L’ARTISHE GALLERY
2017 – HIGHLIGHTS EXHIBITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH UMOJA ARTS, BOURNEMOUTH LIBRARY
2017 – HANDHELD, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, BARNOON WORKSHOP, ST IVES
2017 – BUZZING AROUND SHAFTESBURY, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, SHAFTESBURY ART CENTRE
2016 – SUMMER OF BUZZ, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, ARTHOUSE SOUTHAMPTON
2015 – WILD ART, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST, FINE FOUNDATION CHESIL BEACH GALLERY.
2015 – PURBECK ART WEEKS, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, DURLSTON FINE FOUNDATION GALLERY
2015 – EBB AND FLOW, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION ONLINE EXHIBITION, HOSTED BY REJECTAMENTA
2015 – BOOKS BUT NOT AS WE KNOW THEM, SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION, DURLSTON FINE FOUNDATION GALLERY
2014 – WORDS WORK GROUP EXHIBITION L’ARTISHE GALLERY
2014 – SYNCHRONICITY, GROUP EXHIBITION TRINITY BOUY WHARF GALLERY
2014 – SOMEWHERE UNDER THE SEA SOLO EXHIBITION L’ARTISHE GALLERY
2012 – NAKED BIRDS, SOLO EXHIBITION L’ARTISHE GALLERY