"My early life was overflowing with wonderful strong women. Women are the ‘heroes’ in my life: my support, my teachers, my wise counselors, my advocates…The women in my paintings are deities - major, minor, lesser, semi and demi, similar to the gods of ancient Greece. The divine figures of my paintings usually have their faces covered, as a viewer may only be permitted to see her face with her permission."
- Sterling Shaw
Plague Of Frogs, 40" x 43', Acrylic And Charcoal On Paper Mounted On Panel
Bible stories, nursery rhymes, and references to mythology intermingle in Sterling Shaw’s dream-like narratives. While his approach to surface and media is varied, Shaw’s dedication to storytelling is apparent throughout the entire body of work. In many cases, the protagonists find themselves swept into mysterious situations and settings, as forces of nature factor into the stories. Shaw’s larger-than-life figures inhabit and stride through their environments like giant deities; however, they are deities with human flaws. Not wanting to be strictly allegorical, Shaw seeks a reaction to his subject matter that invokes a shifting interpretation depending on the individual associations made by each viewer.
Shaw says, “My early life was overflowing with wonderful strong women. Women are the ‘heroes’ in my life: my support, my teachers, my wise counselors, my advocates…The women in my paintings are deities - major, minor, lesser, semi and demi, similar to the gods of ancient Greece. The divine figures of my paintings usually have their faces covered, as a viewer may only be permitted to see her face with her permission.”
In his recent work, Shaw has further focused on drawing in his painting practice. His initial charcoal images were derived from a stream of consciousness approach, allowing the figure to be revealed. Later in his process, Shaw incorporates collage techniques where he juxtaposes unconnected objects and settings and the final painting emerges. Regardless of the medium, Shaw’s skillful hand and meticulous eye for the human form is always present as he masterfully moves among aqueous media, charcoal, Conté crayon, and ink.
Daphnee, 20" x 20", Charcoal, Ink And Acrylic Polymer On Panel
Sterling Shaw is a product of Philadelphia’s public school system. He received his Certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts in 2004 and MFA in 2020. His work has been exhibited at The Painting Center New York, The Woodmere Art Museum, Delaware Center For Contemporary Art, Rosenfeld Gallery, The Main Line Art Center, Seraphin Gallery, Artists House Gallery and Gross McCleaf Gallery.
Shaw's work belongs to various private and public collections, including the permanent collection of The Woodmere Art Museum, the Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection. This is Shaw’s first solo exhibition with Gross McCleaf.
Study Of The Heart, 72" x 38", Acrylic On Canvas