Sharon Sprung
"My paintings are a carefully observed negotiation, manipulated layer upon layer in order to create a work of art as equivalent as possible to the complexity of real life. They are an attempt to control the almost uncontrollable substance that is oil paint, and the equally untamable expression of the human condition."
Sharon Sprung received her training at Cornell University, the Art Students League, and the National Academy of Design. She has had many solo shows, the most recent at Gallery Henoch in New York City. Throughout her lengthy career, her work has been shown around the country as well as internationally.
Sharon has been bestowed with numerous awards, magazine articles and commissions. Her commissions hang in the United States House of Representatives, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the Federal Court House in New York City, and in extensive private collections worldwide.
Sprung was selected to paint the Official White House Portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. She was also chosen, after a national search, to paint Jeannette Rankin, the first Congresswoman elected in the United States, as well as Representative Patsy Mink, the first Asian and woman of color in Congress.
She teaches portrait painting at the Art Students League. In addition, she has taught painting in Havana, Florence, Paris, and St Petersburg, Russia.
Selected Commissions & Collections
Selected commissions and collections include:
- The White House - Michelle Obama
- US House of Representatives - Jeannette Rankin
- US House of Representatives - Patsy Mink
- Princeton University - Al Robateau
- The University of Virginia - Meredith Woo
- US Federal Court House NYC - Hon. John Keenan
- Barnard College - Sian Beilock
- Columbia University - Jonathan Lavine & Lisa Carney, Trustees
- National Academy of Science - President
- College of William and Mary - Katherine Rove
- Commissioner of Health, NYS - Jonathan Zucker
- Former CEO of Amgen - Kevin Sharer
- Presiding Justice, NYS Appellate Division, the Supreme Court - TBA
Honors & Awards
- Currently serving as Vice President of the Artist's Fellowship, 2016 to present
- Award of Excellence, Category of Fine Art, by the Publisher of Creative Quarterly, the Best of Art & Design Quarterly 2015
- "Portrait of a Girl in Window" won First Honorable Mention, Members Only Competition, "Outside the Box" category, The Portrait Society of America, 2015
- "Untangled" won Fifth Honorable Mention, Members Only Competition, Non-commissioned Portrait Category, The Portrait Society of America, 2015
- "The Curious Chinese Boxes" won First Honorable Mention, Members Only Competition, Still Life Category, The Portrait Society of America, 2015
- Lifetime Achievement Award, The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, 2012
- "Sari" won Third Place, Members Only Competition, Nude Category, The Portrait Society of America, 2012
- Appointed Member of the Board, The Artist's Fellowship, 2011
- "Reclining Girl" awarded the Purchase Prize and the William Bouguereau Award by the Art Renewal Center, 2011
- "Broken Window" won First Place, International Portrait Competition of the Portrait Society of America, 2011
- 2nd Prize, International Artist Magazine's Challenge No. 58 competition, "Favorite Subjects," 2010
- Judges' Excellence Award, Blossom - Art of Flowers Competition, 2007
- First Place, Portrait & Figure Category, The Artist's Magazine, 2006
- Honorable Mention, Third International Art Salon, Art Renewal Center, 2006
- Awards Finalist, The Artist's Magazine, 2006
- Jury's Selection, Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, 2006
- Awards Finalist, Second International Art Salon, Art Renewal Center, 2005
- Awards Finalist, The Artist's Magazine, 2002
- Stacey Foundation Grant, 1982
- Greenshields Foundation Grant, 1975
