Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheryl Zacharia.
Sheryl, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in the New York area and lived in Manhattan most of my adult life. Except for a brief period at Southampton College where I majored in painting, I am primarily a self taught artist. In my young adult years I pursued a career as a singer-songwriter. I performed in the NYC club circuit for 15 years and am a published songwriter.
Missing my visual arts roots, I began working in clay which started me on a new artistic path. I taught in various Potteries and have exhibited both locally and nationally. My pieces have been published in magazines and books, and are in various Museum and private collections. My work is in the permanent collections of The Kirkland Museum in Denver, The Racine Art Museum in Wisconsin and most recently I won an award for a piece in the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts Ceramic Biennial. The Museum has added that work to their permanent collection. My work is represented by various Galleries around the country and I completed an eight month extended residency at The Museum of Arts and Design in NYC. I show at the beautiful William Havu Gallery in Denver and will be in a 3 person show there July 2027
Though I admittedly consider myself a diehard New Yorker, I moved to Santa Fe New Mexico 11 years ago to live out my dream of being a full time artist with a home studio. I now also reside in NYC and divide my time between Santa Fe and New York.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my biggest struggle was starting later in life, at age 35, and did not have the University education that many have, which makes the learning curve longer and did not get any professional connections one can get in a traditional education. It has been a long road and struggle getting my work into Galleries and started out by entering many National juried Shows. Another challenge, living in NYC, was finding affordable studio space which is why I moved out West, so I could have a home studio.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily a ceramic sculptor tho I also dabble in painting when I have the time. Of course the surfaces of my ceramic works are essentially painting on clay. I think that is what I am most known and appreciated for, the combination of form and surface in my work. What I am most proud of is that I have finally reached a point in my career that I make a living and love what I do. Also that I am in some Museum and prestigious collections. What sets me apart from others is my individual style, and that while my works are all identifiable as mine, there is a lot of variation as I am always challenging myself with new forms, palettes, and designs.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have never really had a mentor, but I would say studying with different people and learning new things adds a lot to your vocabulary. Tho I didn’t have a formal education, I was fortunate to take classes and workshops with some wonderful artists, Networking is a tough one. I admit to having my head down in the clay which is what I love and have always found networking a challenge. As I said, I entered a lot of Shows in the beginning and then the Galleries that represent my work fell into place through introductions or them finding my work online. Social Media is definitely a good and free way to get your work out there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sherylzacharia.com
- Instagram: szclay
- Facebook: Sheryl Zacharia
