Live Drawing Demo: Shelby Shadwell

Drawings by Shelby Shadwell

On view: May 6 – May 23, 2025
Opening reception: Friday, March 9, 5:00–7:00 PM
Live drawing demo: May 6, 1:00–3:00 PM

Strata Gallery presents an Established Member’s second solo exhibition, Drawings, by Wyoming-based artist Shelby Shadwell. The exhibition opens May 6, with a live drawing demonstration on Tuesday, May 6, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, where the artist will be  drawing in the gallery to show viewers how the work is made. There will also be a reception on  Friday, May 9, 5:00 – 7:00 pm with an artist talk at 6:00 pm.

Shelby Shadwell’s work consists of large-scale charcoal and pastel drawings of non-traditional imagery such as chunks of black anthracite coal, piles of cockroaches, and “space blankets”  used in emergency situations to stay warm. The drawings may illicit feelings of disgust or  revulsion and awe or ecstasy simultaneously due to the contrast between the vulgarity or ephemerality of the imagery juxtaposed with its meticulous, hyper-realistic, rendering. Shelby’s  work allows viewers space to ask questions about low and high status in artistic subject matter and romantic tropes in contemporary western art.

“I am very honored to share my work again with the Santa Fe community through Strata Gallery with its unique non-profit and educational mission.” – Shelby Shadwell

The Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research provided support to help facilitate this  exhibition.

Shelby is currently a Professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Wyoming.  From Springfield, MO, Shelby received his BFA in 2003 from Washington University in St. Louis  and his MFA in 2006 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. His work has been exhibited  throughout the nation at venues including the Portland Art Museum, OR, William Havu Gallery  in Denver, CO, and Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, OH. For more information on Shelby and his work, please visit his website at www.shelbyshadwell.com or Instagram @shelbyshadwell.