• Contact Information • Education • Arts Related Experience • Artist's Statement • Selected Exhibitions • Affiliations • Selected Publications • Collections • Artist's Gallery

Address: Minneapolis, Minnesota

E-mail: lsharpe9@comcast.net

1972 - Master's Degree, International Relations, University of Minnesota

1985-present - Importer of Asian and Indian art

1996-present - Intuitive painting workshops

I have a passion for bold colors and a multi-layered expression of challenging ideas. My approach to painting is intuitive, spontaneous and serendipitous. With no plan or intention, I begin each work by choosing an acrylic color and paint on either paper or canvas in an abstract from or gesture. Then I select another color and create another form. Slowly, as layer upon layer of color, is added, the intention of the painting presents itself and I see meaning out of the randomness. Often brightly colored figures arise, bubbling with fantasy and magic and defying gravity or proper proportion. These forms appear to be an innocent joyful exploration but are actually imbued with powerful social or political undercurrents.

Recently, the focus of my creativity has been a less fanciful and more provocative series of portraits of women. The style, attitude and personalities of these women evolve right on the canvas until ultimately the lines, shapes and colors meld together as one cohesive expression.

My work is inspired by everyday life--its delights, foibles and dramas. The figures in my paintings display their emotions and give the viewer a sense of mood and feeling.

Solo Exhibitions

2003
San Diego Artwalk Gallery, San Diego, CA. Featured Artist - February, 2003

2001
The Children's Theater, Minneapolis MN, Juried show part of The Visible Fringe at The Minnesota Fringe Festival

Group Exhibitions

2006
Members’ Show Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN

2003
Refrigerator Artist, San Diego Artwalk Gallery, San Diego, CA
Sold On Art, Juried Show, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Members' Show, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN - Honorable Mention

2001/2002
Sold On Art, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Outsiders Outside, Judith Racht Gallery, Harbert, MI
Estrogenius 2001, Manhattan Theatre Source. New York City, NY
The Rogue Buddah Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

Art Fairs - Juried

2006
One Of A Kind Show, Chicago, IL
Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN

2005
One Of A Kind Show, Chicago, IL
Lincolnshire Art Festival, Lincolnshire, IL

2005-03
Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL
Art On The Lake, Excelsior, MN

2004-03
Fountain Square Art Fair, Evanston, IL
San Diego Artwalk, San Diego, CA

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN
Minnesota Artists Organization, Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis/St.Paul Now Magazine, Please Be Seated, Fall 2005

Linda Sharpe’s paintings are found in art collections in the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa.