About Deirdre Sheean
Deirdre Sheean, born and raised in New Jersey by a family of artists, studied graphic design and illustration at Parsons in the 1970s and has continually renovated and updated her own style. By using stencils, Sheean reveals intrinsic repetition both in the natural and the man-made with recursive symbols. During this process, Sheean leaned into her graphic design background by using design systems to organize these motifs. Additionally, she focuses on contrast to inform the composition of her pieces, using the variety to allow the subjects to take on a life of their own. Sheean has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout New Jersey and has received many awards at the Mercer County Artist, Monmouth County Arts Council, and most recently at the Ellarslie Open 36 in Trenton, New Jersey.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2019 – Watercolor & Mixed Media: “Ephemeral Visions”
New Brunswick Art Salon 2020 – All Media: “Configured Personas”
Artist Personal Website: www.DSheean.com
Email: deirdresheean@hotmail.com
Artist Statement
My paintings are the culmination of years of working with a variety of materials and techniques and the development of a visual language uniquely my own. Certain themes have emerged as well, and a process that adheres to certain principles and ideas but is flexible enough to take advantage of mistakes and welcome accidents.
The underlying system/process that exists in both nature and in man-made structures is one such theme and is expressed through the repeated use of various symbols (interlocking gears, coils, architectural or botanical images) and achieved by using stencils. Design systems that I relied on heavily as a graphic designer, ─ 1-inch grids, the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio ─ are some of the means by which I organize these images, although frequently subverted or erased along the way in order to achieve a more satisfying, natural painting.
Subject matter is my starting point, but it is the goal of achieving a strong composition that drives my painting. Throughout the entire process, from beginning to end, I am conscious of the power of differences (small shapes beside larger shapes; the play of dark along side light; scrubbed or sketchy, areas juxtaposed to flat, solid are as of color). By paying close attention to these differences my journey begins and the paintings often takes on a life of their own
Exhibitions
Built Environment, West Windsor Arts Council, NJ—Juried Show, March 23-May 15, 2020
Luxury Boom, Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, NJ—Juried Show,March 28-June 7,2020
Every Ghetto, Every City, BSB Gallery, Trenton, NJ─ December 13-January 4, 2020
Watercolor and Mixed Media Group Show─ Alfa Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ, November 1st -December 21, 2019
Pushing 40─ Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ─ October2018
Gallery 33Franklin Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520─ September 2018
Off the Wall Juried Show─ West Windsor Arts Council, 2017
Roosevelt Woodland Trail Art Walk and Open-Air Gallery, Roosevelt, 2017/2018/2019
Mercer County Artists─ MCCC, West Windsor, NJ Winter 2009
Monmouth County Arts Council─ Monmouth County Museum Lincroft, NJ Fall 2008
Roosevelt 20th Anniversary Show in the Factory─ Roosevelt, NJ May 2006
The WPA Gallery–Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton, NJ─ January 2003
TAWA 2001 at Ellarslie Invitationals–Trenton, NJ August─ 2001
Firehouse Gallery─ Miniature Show 2001 Bordentown, NJ
The Camden County Heritage Commission─ Roosevelt Artists 2001 Camden, NJ
Monmouth County Arts Invitational 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001─ Monmouth County Museum Lincroft, NJ
Art Alliance Show 1998, 2000, 2001─ Red Bank, NJ
Small Works Show 1996, 1998─ The WPA Gallery Art Council of Princeton,Princeton, NJ
Achievements
Honorable Mention ─ Mixed Media ─ Ellarslie Open 36 2019, Trenton NJ
MCAC Award ─ Monmouth County Arts Council 1998, Lincroft, NJ
2nd Place Award─ Art Alliance Show 1998, Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ
PurchaseAward─ Mercer County Artists 1989, MCCC, West Windsor, NJ
Merit Award─ Mercer County Artists 1986, MCCC, West Windsor, NJ