Stars (& Stripes) In Her Eyes
Sharon L. Bjyrd
Mixed Media on Canvas - Acrylic Paint & Newsprint
$200
Artist Statement
An homage to a young black woman from Chicago who wasn't afraid to dream the impossible dream and had the strength, vision and fortitude to be a changemaker and part of a pioneering couple in American politics.
About the Artist
Sharon L. Bjyrd is best known for her vibrant portraits celebrating the beauty and diversity of the black experience. "I seek to honor the individuality of people of color and to depict the different ways we go about expressing our blackness."
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, she moved to Madison in the 90's where she attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, studying Social Work and Afro American studies. Self-taught, with a few classes along the way, Sharon entered the art world as a second passion spending her early years working in the domestic violence field and serving women in poverty through work at the YWCA, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other community agencies. Becoming homebound due to mobility issues as a result of Lupus and sickle cell disease, Sharon re-discovered her love of art in the form of painting. Her medium of choice is acrylic paint, though she sometimes creates mixed media pieces.
Sharon's work has been recently featured in the Book "Let's Talk About It", featuring the State St Murals and muralist from the Summer 2020 George Floyd riots. She has also shown at Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's Art Fair on the Square; The South Side Community Art Center, Chicago; Hatch Art House, Madison, WI and the Silver Room Block Party 100 Canvas Event in Chicago.