Artist Bio:

Sharon Bjyrd is a visual artist and curator originally from Chicago, now based in Wisconsin. Her early professional life was grounded in service, working to empower women affected by poverty and domestic violence. Self-taught, Sharon’s rediscovery of a long standing creative voice happened during a season of physical stillness caused by chronic illness. The lived experience of standing at the intersection of race, sex and ableism informs her focus on themes of rest, resilience and humanization.

Her work spans painting, mixed media, installation, and curation. She uses both figurative and abstract approaches to explore identity, worth, and humanization. Drawing inspiration from personal experience, history, and contemporary social issues, her practice reflects the complexity and richness of Black life. Influenced by contemporary Black artists such as Kehinde Wiley, Faith Ringgold and Kerry James Marshall, Sharon’s paintings blend portraiture with African-inspired patterns and bold color palettes, creating emotionally rich, visually arresting images. In addition to her studio practice, Sharon brings curatorial experience where her work often addresses social justice, joy, creativity, rest and resilience within Black communities. When curating an exhibit, she prioritizes immersive and participatory experiences that invite physical and emotional engagement. 

Sharon has participated in numerous group and solo exhibits across Wisconsin and Illinois. Her professional experience includes the Madison State Street Mural Project and its accompanying publication, city commissioned public art, a multi-year licensing contract, and artwork held in permanent collections at Madison College and UW Hospital.

Artist Statement 

As a Black woman, daughter, sister, mother, and artist, I create from a place that is deeply personal and purposeful. My art is my activism, and a visual love letter to the Black experience - especially the beauty, resilience, and dignity of Black people. Through color, form, and symbolism, I seek to affirm what the world too often tries to deny… our humanity. My work centers on what I know intimately: the elegance of brown skin; the pride in natural hair; the power of ancestral memory; and the unbreakable spirit that grows, even in hostile soil. Whether I’m painting or curating an exhibit,  my goal is always to honor our truth, spark conversation, and challenge the narratives that devalue us.

As a person living with chronic illness art, for me, is not a hobby, it’s a necessity. It’s how I process pain and how I process joy. It deepens my commitment to using my craft as a tool for humanization of Blackness. My aim is to elevate stories that are often overlooked, to create beauty where there has been erasure, and to ensure that our images, our voices, are seen, heard and remembered.

Artist Resumè