Sharon Pierce McCullough

Experimentation is always at the forefront of my mind during the creative process. I work across media, disciplines and approaches, exploring questions of form and material. I am inspired by a word, an image, a thought. My practice thrives on the juxtaposition of incongruent colors and materials and while some of my work is begun with a plan, much of my work involves working intuitively.

My paintings celebrate life and color. Even when I'm not working on a large painting or sculpture, I am making a piece of art. It's in my DNA. I am drawn to color like an insect to light and painting always gives me an opportunity to explore color.

Working in both a lyrical and narrative style, my abstract paintings are most often created intuitively. There is a spontaneity to my work as I explore the relationship of positive and negative space, color and form. Line and color continue to be the most important elements of my work.

An underlying thread of "fun" has always permeated my work.

In my practice, I enjoy toggling back and forth between sculpture and painting. My mind is always in creative mode even between projects. Primarily, I prefer to work in series, developing new work and adding to ongoing series.

Born in Granite City, Illinois in 1943, I grew up in the area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My adult life has been divided between Virginia Beach, Virginia and Cashtown, PA, where I work out of my home studio, housed in our historic stone house.

Self-taught.

Associate of Arts, Mount Aloysius College, Cresson, PA, May 1963

2020 - Juror's Award, On Thin Ice, Carlisle Arts Center, Carlisle PA
2018 - Juror's Award, Annmarie Sculpture & Art Center, Solomons MD
2017 - Sculpture Award, Eye of the Beholder, MFA, Annapolis MD
2016 - Sculpture Design Award, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir NC
2016 - Judges Merit Award, Sculpture Celebration 2016, Lenoir NC
2015 - First Place for Sculpture, Art of the State, State Museum of Pennsylvania

Residencies:
Artist in Residence, Adams County Arts Council Star Grant, in conjunction with the Migrant Education & ESL Summer Program, July 2006
Artist in Residence, Franklin Township Elementary School (Gettysburg School District), January 2004

Public Art:
• 2021 Fleeting Fled, Glen Echo Park, MD
• 2018, Artina, Sandy Springs Museum, Sandy Springs MD
• 2017 Five Points Drive Through Gallery, Norfolk VA

Exhibitions: Solo
• 2019, Works & Working, Carlisle Arts Center, Carlisle PA
• 2018, Pieced Together, Caldwell Arts Center, Lenoir NC
• 2014, Color Me Happy, Adams County Arts Center, Gettysburg, PA
• 2012, Color, Color Everywhere, Gallery 30, Gettysburg, PA
• 2010, Blue Parrot, Gettysburg, PA



Exhibitions: Group
• 2021, 100 Years in the Present, Popcorn Gallery, Glen Echo, MD
• 2021, 2021 National Juried Exhibition, Delaplaine Arts Ctr, Frederick MD
• 2021, Fleeting Fled, Washington Sculptors, Glen Echo, MD
• 2021 We the People, Carlisle Arts Center, Carlisle PA
• 2020, 21st Annual Juried Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland MD
• 2020, Creating Joy, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg PA
• 2020, Juried Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Arts, Hagerstown MD
• 2020, On Thin Ice, Carlisle Arts Center, Carlisle PA
• 2019, Animalia, Ann Street Gallery, Newburg, NY
• 2019, Sculpture Celebration 2018, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir NC
• 2019, Off the Wall, Waverly Gallery, Bethesda MD
• 2019, Fusion, Virginia Beach Arts Center, VA Beach, VA
• 2019, Juried Sculpture Walk, Blowing Rock NC
• 2019, Where Have We Been, Center Arts Gallery, Towson Univ., Towson MD
• 2019, Washington Sculptors Image Show, Washington DC
• 2019, Freedom:Art as Messenger, Cato Institute, Washington DC
• 2019, Folksy, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons MD
• 2019, Juried Exhibition, Washington County Museum of Arts, Hagerstown MD
• 2019, Alterations, Carlisle Arts Center, Carlisle PA
• 2019, Night, 28th Juried Exhibition, Strathmore Arts, N. Bethesda MD
• 2018, 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland MD
• 2018, Railway Benefit (invitational) Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia PA
• 2018, Sculpture Celebration 2018, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir NC
• 2018, Over 70 Exhibit, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick MD
• 2018, 15th Juried ACAC Exhibit, Schmucker Gallery, Gettysburg College PA
• 2018, 12th Juried Exhibit, Goggleworks, Reading PA
• 2018, Big Fun Art, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons MD
• 2018, Poe & Puck, Strathmore Arts, N. Bethesda MD
• 2018, Caldwell Arts Center, Lenoir NC (sculpture)
• 2017, Eye of the Beholder, MFA Circle Gallery, Annapolis MD (sculpture)
• 2017, La Vie En Bleu, Strathmore Arts, Bethesda MD (sculpture)
• 2017, Specter 4, BG Gallery, Santa Monica CA
• 2016, Fur, Feathers & Fins, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons MD
• 2016, Sculpture Celebration 2016, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir NC
• 2015, Art of the State, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Hbg. PA
• 2015, Sculpture Celebration 2015, Caldwell Arts Council, Lenoir NC
• 2015 Biennial, Rochester Fine Art Museum, Rochester NH June 2015
• 2015, Found in Transition, Susquehanna Art Museum, Hbg PA

I am inspired by the artists Miro, Klee and Calder.

abstract art, colorful, whimsical, narrative , lyrical, abstract expressionism