Linda Sharpe's painting "Falling In Love" will be featured in the Minneapolis (Minnesota USA) Institute of Art's "Art In Bloom" silent auction on April 29, 2009. [Announcement - Linda Sharpe - 1Ko - 2009]

Linda Sharpe is an artist with a passion for bold colors and a multi-layered expression of challenging ideas. Her approach to painting is intuitive, spontaneous and serendipitous. With no plan or intention, she begins each work by choosing an acrylic color which she paints on either paper or canvas as an abstract from or gesture. She then selects another color and creates another form. Slowly, as she paints layer upon layer of color, the intention of the painting presents itself to her and she makes 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 Linda’s 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. Linda’s work is inspired by and is about life, its difficulties and beauty. The figures in her paintings display their emotions and give the viewer a sense of mood and feeling. She uses her painting to express her feelings about people and their interconnection with each other and their environments. M.A. International Relations University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN   B.A. International Relations University of Denver, Denver, CO International Relations Institute of European Studies, Vienna, Austria  Various Art Workshops Split Rock Arts Program, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN The Painting Experience, San Francisco, CA Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN 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 Membersí 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 [Biography - Linda Sharpe - 4Ko]