Sheila Cuellar-Shaffer has been a creator, primarily a painter, and designer for over 20 years. A native of Palmira, Colombia, Sheila graduated with a degree in Architectural Design from the Fundación Academia de Dibujo Profesional and studied Fine Arts at the Instituto Departamental de Bellas Artes in Cali, Colombia.
Sheila’s practice represents her interest in identity, diversity, human rights, and social justice. Her work has been shown at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Susquehanna Museum of Art, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Sheila has been invited to show her work at the Pennsylvania State Capitol and the United States Department of Energy. Her design Democracy is Power was chosen by the Amplifier Foundation curatorial team, which includes Shepard Fairey, to travel around the country with #powertothepolls.
Sheila is currently the Lead Artist on The Billboard Art Project and serves on the Board of Directors of the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.
ARTIST STATEMENT
For many years my work was the result of introspection and the passage of time. I created narratives of the under layers of existence, depicting memories of my own reality as an immigrant exploring identity, diversity. As society shifted, so did my work, from individual to collective experience.
I use Latin American historical elements, zoo-anthropomorphic figures and pop culture references to convey ideas of human behavior, the nature of political power and societal structures. The imagery in my work is based in actual places and experiences although my paintings fluctuate between imaginary landscapes and beings.
2020
How Will They Know We Were Here? 100 Years Beyond Women’s Suffrage, Women’s Studies Research Center, Kniznick Gallery | Brandeis University
Three Artists (Three Women), University Art Gallery, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland, PA
Candyland: The Land of Hope, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA
2019
The 107th Annual Exhibition, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Juror Juana Williams, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA.
Candyland: The Land of Hope, Solo Show, Juror Jessica Alpern Brown, Curated by Tina Dillman, Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media, Pittsburgh, PA
2018
Artistas de Mayo, Eastside Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2017
22nd Annual, Western Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier, PA
Small Works, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Curated by Jill Larson, Bottle Works, Johnstown, PA
Electric Kool-Aid, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Curated by Corey Carrington, Brew House, Pittsburgh, PA
Contemplating Others, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Curated by Sean Beauford, Jask Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2016
105th Annual, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
New Members, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, The Mine Factory, Pittsburgh, PA
Juried Visual Art Show, Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA
2015
Recent Works, Solo Show, 709 Penn Gallery, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA
Hispanic Heritage, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA
Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA
Aquí, Assemble, curated by Maritza Mosquera, Pittsburgh, PA
Creative Festival Finalist, Pittsburgh Tech Council/CMU/Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA
2014
Southmoreland Patrons of the Arts, Alverton, PA
2013
18th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Western PA Council for the Arts, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier, PA
Art in our Midst, Southern Alleghenies Museums of Art, Altoona, PA
Curator, Westmoreland Art Nationals, Youngwood, PA
Curator, Westmoreland Art Nationals, Latrobe, PA
2012
Westmoreland Juried Biennial – Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, PA
2011
17th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Western PA Council for the Arts, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Ligonier, PA
Annual Gala, Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation, Latrobe, PA
2010
Design Art & Technology DATA Awards, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Pittsburgh, PA
2007
Women’s Works, 709 Penn Gallery, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA
Curatorial Biennial, Apexart Gallery, New York, NY
2005
Women in Art, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
2003
Hispanic Heritage Festival, Office of the Mayor Manny Díaz, Miami, FL
2002
International Biennial II, ARA Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Conceptual Exhibit El, ARA Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Transgressing Place, Miami Dade College, Centre Gallery, Miami, FL
Women’s Month, Latin American Art Museum, Miami, FL
2001
105th Anniversary Celebration, Tower Theater, Miami, FL
Rituales, Power International Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Diversity Collection commissioned by Royal Caribbean Cruises
2000
Colectiva, Power International Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
1999
From the Other Side, Valter Morais Art Gallery, Coral Gables, FL
Instituto Departamental de Bellas Artes, Santiago de Cali, Colombia
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