Sharon Thomas (b. 1979) is a British figurative artist and lecturer living and working in Glasgow, UK.
A central theme within her work is that of the role of artist as author, analyst, and maker; questioning social constructs, their consequential rituals and arts role within that. Using imaginary material, excerpts from her personal history and the ‘real’ history of art, Thomas presents fictional alongside factual narratives where drawing, painting and installation explore subjects such as gender, class and sexuality.
Thomas’ drawings and paintings have been invited for solo exhibitions across Europe, including locations such as Museet for Religios kunst, Denmark; and The Mandrake Gallery, New Mexico, and Paisley Museum, UK; with exhibitions also taking her work routes across the USA via art fairs in Chicago, USA and Milan, Italy represented by Brooklyn gallery Jack the Pelican Presents; then Washington DC, USA and Cortona, Italy with Italian gallery Teverina Fine Arts.
Herstory: A Decade on
Sharon Thomas in her studio, 2011.
To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on the 8th March 2021 the RGI are proud to present, in collaboration with the artist Sharon Thomas, an online exhibition honouring the painting series ‘Herstory Portrait – A Decade On’. ‘Herstory Portrait’ is an art project directed by Thomas mapping female power and influence in contemporary Scotland through the eyes and practice of a female artist making paintings in 21st Century Glasgow.
Over a 12-month period leading to the Centenary Anniversary of IWD in 2011, Thomas visited seven female subjects in their own working environments from Holyrood, the Crown Office and the Glasgow School of Art. The drawings from these sittings formed the base for the final series of egg tempera on gesso panels that were presented in IWD at Glasgow Trades Hall.
These interviews alongside the commissioned writings from Glasgow Women’s Library Founder Adele Patrick, Art Historian Francesco Nevola and Writer Grainne Rice provide a unique perspective to the seminal work that is ‘Herstory Portrait’: an artwork mapping a milestone period in Scottish Cultural and Political Herstory. You can read Sharon Thomas’ Herstory in context By Francesco Nevolahere. Other writings include an essay by Adele Patrick and The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman by Gráinne Rice. You can also read an interview from 2012 about the ‘Herstory Portrait’ exhibition at Paisley Museum between Sharon Thomas and Museum Director Andrea Kusel here.
To close the exhibition, Sharon sat down with Frances Robertson to discuss the drive and emotions behind making Herstory. Please note that the interview contains a discussion regarding abuse which some readers may find distressing. The interview can be viewed here.
Main image: ‘Kathy Chambers’ by Sharon Thomas, 2010.
Online Exhibition: Herstory Portrait – A Decade on
Sharon Thomas
Saturday 6 March - Monday 22 March 2021
Herstory Portrait – A Decade on.
About the Artist:
Sharon Thomas (b. 1979) is a British figurative artist and lecturer living and working in Glasgow, UK.
A central theme within her work is that of the role of artist as author, analyst, and maker; questioning social constructs, their consequential rituals and arts role within that. Using imaginary material, excerpts from her personal history and the ‘real’ history of art, Thomas presents fictional alongside factual narratives where drawing, painting and installation explore subjects such as gender, class and sexuality.
Thomas’ drawings and paintings have been invited for solo exhibitions across Europe, including locations such as Museet for Religios kunst, Denmark; and The Mandrake Gallery, New Mexico, and Paisley Museum, UK; with exhibitions also taking her work routes across the USA via art fairs in Chicago, USA and Milan, Italy represented by Brooklyn gallery Jack the Pelican Presents; then Washington DC, USA and Cortona, Italy with Italian gallery Teverina Fine Arts.
Herstory: A Decade on
Sharon Thomas in her studio, 2011.
To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on the 8th March 2021 the RGI are proud to present, in collaboration with the artist Sharon Thomas, an online exhibition honouring the painting series ‘Herstory Portrait – A Decade On’. ‘Herstory Portrait’ is an art project directed by Thomas mapping female power and influence in contemporary Scotland through the eyes and practice of a female artist making paintings in 21st Century Glasgow.
Over a 12-month period leading to the Centenary Anniversary of IWD in 2011, Thomas visited seven female subjects in their own working environments from Holyrood, the Crown Office and the Glasgow School of Art. The drawings from these sittings formed the base for the final series of egg tempera on gesso panels that were presented in IWD at Glasgow Trades Hall.
Whilst developing this important work Thomas was honoured to invite artist and writer Frances Robertson to interview these women during their sittings. The work consists of seven portraits and working sketches of: Seona Reid, Jean McFadden, Ruth Wishart, Kathy Chambers, Elish Angiolini, Johann Lamont and Deanna Maganias.
Sharon Thomas and Adele Patrick, 2012.
These interviews alongside the commissioned writings from Glasgow Women’s Library Founder Adele Patrick, Art Historian Francesco Nevola and Writer Grainne Rice provide a unique perspective to the seminal work that is ‘Herstory Portrait’: an artwork mapping a milestone period in Scottish Cultural and Political Herstory. You can read Sharon Thomas’ Herstory in context By Francesco Nevola here. Other writings include an essay by Adele Patrick and The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman by Gráinne Rice. You can also read an interview from 2012 about the ‘Herstory Portrait’ exhibition at Paisley Museum between Sharon Thomas and Museum Director Andrea Kusel here.
To close the exhibition, Sharon sat down with Frances Robertson to discuss the drive and emotions behind making Herstory. Please note that the interview contains a discussion regarding abuse which some readers may find distressing. The interview can be viewed here.
Main image: ‘Kathy Chambers’ by Sharon Thomas, 2010.
Images