Sharon Dowell

Sharon Dowell

Painter, Public Art Creator, Art Consultant

Followers of Sharon Dowell2000 followers
location of Sharon DowellCharlotte, North Carolina, USA

Connect with Sharon Dowell to Send Message

Connect

Connect with Sharon Dowell to Send Message

Connect
  • Timeline

  • About me

    Artist (Public Art Creator, Muralist, Art Consultant)

  • Education

    • University of North Carolina at Charlotte

      2000 - 2002
      BFA Fine Art
    • Winthrop University

      2013 - 2017
      Master's Degree Arts Administration
  • Experience

    • Sharon Dowell Art

      May 2004 - now
      Painter, Public Art Creator, Art Consultant

      I am a painter and public art creator, accepting commissions from cities, arts councils, corporations to residential clients and more. I have a focus on works on canvas, murals and public art. Intertwining themes course through my paintings; the energy of place, renewal, regeneration, and redemption. I believe that creative place making communicates distinctiveness and generates connections across communities. Thus, it is important for my projects to also serve as a vehicle to give back and shape communities for the better.I received a MA in Arts Administration from Winthrop University and a BFA from UNCC. I have served as an Adjunct Professor and Rowe Galleries Coordinator at UNC Charlotte and as Director for Center of the Earth Gallery. I enjoy curating exhibitions and art consulting as well.My commissions include large scale mural, light rail station and transit projects for Charlotte and Boulder, CO as well as murals for UNCC, the cities of Rock Hill and Concord, and bus shelter art for Durham. My residencies include The McColl Center for Visual Art, Vermont Studio Center, Can Serrat in Barcelona, Casa Lu in Mexico City, Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland, NES in Iceland, United Buddy Bear Studios in Berlin, and the Julia and David White Colony in Costa Rica. I have received multiple Arts and Science Council artist grants and my work is in several corporate collections.View my work at www.sharondowell.com or on IG at @sharon_dowell Show less

    • Center of the Earth Gallery

      Aug 2004 - Jun 2010
      Director

      Curated, managed and trained staff, heavy sales, developed corporate and residential clients, installation, wrote, edited and designed marketing materials, website updating, coordinated with artists, organized special events and art openings.

    • Charlotte Area Transit System

      Jan 2010 - Jun 2015
      Lynx Light Rail Commissioned Artist

      -Designing the future 25th Street station art (wall murals, etched glass, platform design, benches, column claddings, and railings).-Designing art for the future Signal Houses, Transit Power Sub Stations, and Communication Cabinets (murals)

    • McColl Center for Visual Art

      Apr 2011 - Aug 2011
      Summer Affiliate Artist

      In residence from April 11-August 22, 2011

    • Red Sky Gallery

      Oct 2011 - Nov 2012
      RedSky Gallery Art Consultant

      Work with corporate and residential clients with art placement to create unique and stimulating environments.

    • Central Piedmont Community College

      Jul 2012 - Nov 2012
      Gallery Coordinator

      • Curated and coordinated visiting professional, faculty, and student art exhibitions• Worked with faculty Gallery Committee and support staff in curating, programming, budgeting, exhibition and installation coordination, reception and special event coordination• Managed and trained gallery staff• Coordinated lunch lectures to raise gallery’s educational impact for students• Social media and designed print and web marketing for exhibitions• Built relationships with businesses for future sponsorship of galleries• Began long term planning to raise awareness of the galleries, increase community engagement, and educational impact of the galleries Show less

    • UNC Charlotte

      Aug 2012 - Jun 2015
      Gallery Coordinator & Adjunct Professor

      • Teach the Gallery Internship Lecture Course• Coordinate visiting professional, faculty, alumni, and student art exhibitions• Work with faculty Gallery Committee and support staff in curating, programming, budgeting, exhibition and installation coordination, reception and special event coordination• Expand program to include panel discussions and lectures by established artists (i.e. Mel Chin) • Long term planning to increase educational impact through collaboration, community engagement, and a strategic plan to include fundraising and sponsorships • Connect students to internships and part time jobs in galleries in the Charlotte community• Hire, manage and train student gallery interns and work study student staff• Design print and web marketing for exhibitions, coordinate with Director of Communications• Promote exhibitions and events through social media • Teach ARTA 1402 Gallery Internship Class - Coordinate students in assisting with all aspects of running Rowe Galleries - Educate students on structure of commercial and non-profit galleries, sales, installation, administration, and current gallery and museum trends - Arrange a variety of guest speakers and field trips to galleries and museums Show less

    • Vermont Studio Center

      Jun 2019 - Jun 2019
      Artist In Residence
  • Licenses & Certifications

    • Certificate - Women's Entrepreneurship, Business

      Cornell University
      Apr 2025
  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Sharon Dowell
      City of Charlotte Placemaking Grant City of Charlotte maj 2025
    • Awarded to Sharon Dowell
      Knight Foundation Art & Tech Grantee Knight Foundation jan. 2025
    • Awarded to Sharon Dowell
      Beyond Open CLT grantee Foundation for the Carolinas nov. 2023
  • Volunteer Experience

    • Member

      Issued by Women's Impact Fund on Jan 2025
      Women's Impact FundAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Leadership Impact Member

      Issued by Rotary Club of Charlotte on Jun 2024
      Rotary Club of CharlotteAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Fundraising Volunteer

      Issued by Changing Lives Together Foundation on Jan 2025
      Changing Lives Together FoundationAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Arts Grants Panelist

      Issued by Arts & Science Council on Jan 2012
      Arts & Science CouncilAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Big Sister

      Issued by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America on Jan 2005
      Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericaAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Arts Grants Panelist

      Issued by ArtsGreensboro on Jan 2015
      ArtsGreensboroAssociated with Sharon Dowell
    • Condom Couture Fashion Show Committee Member

      Issued by Planned Parenthood Federation of America on Jan 2014
      Planned Parenthood Federation of AmericaAssociated with Sharon Dowell