Shirley is a Chicago-based artist who integrates her dynamic career as a tech entrepreneur with her passion for creating art. She has been awarded multiple international art prizes, recognizing her exceptional talent and vision. , recognizing her exceptional talent and vision. Shirley started her career as a successful tech founder and executive. She sold her company to follow her childhood aspiration of becoming an artist.
Her work is influenced by Byzantine art, contemporary aesthetics, fashion, and the portrayal of strong female figures. Previously as a female entrepreneur navigating a competitive industry, Shirley's experiences inspire her to create narratives that highlight the hard work, tenacity and perseverance required to reach the top.
Shirley successfully employs the traditional 14th-century Italian water gilding technique, "doratura a guazzo," in her art, acquired from Master Guilders worldwide. This expertise allows her to craft astonishingly detailed works adorned with 24K gold leaf, elevating her paintings in realms of beauty and significance. Through her art, her detailed craftsmanship and use of materials, she celebrates the strength and resilience behind success, inviting viewers to appreciate the stories that lie beneath the surface.
Artist Statement:
"In my work, I celebrate leading female characters who embody beauty, strength, and admiration. Each piece is a tribute to the journey behind their glamorous exteriors—an exploration of the hard work, unseen struggles, and relentless battles that propel them to the top.
I aim to capture the essence of what it means to be an icon, revealing the layers of resilience and determination that define these remarkable figures. My paintings reflect their uniqueness and the astonishing qualities that make them stand out, adorned with meticulous details and a golden hue that symbolizes their extraordinary experiences.
Through my art, I invite viewers to appreciate not just the surface beauty, but the dedication and grit that lie beneath. Each stroke is a testament to the hard work it takes to become the best of the best, a celebration of the powerful narratives that shape the extraordinary."
Awards:
Best in Show, Annual Juried Exhibition, LaGrange Art League, 2024
3rd Prize Winner, Gallery 4 Percent “Anything & Everything”, 2024
Special Recognition, Light Space Time Gallery, 2024
Honorable Mention, Blue Koi Gallery 2nd Women Only Exhibition 2024
Selected Exhibitions:
Annual Juried Exhibition, LaGrange Art League Gallery, LaGrange, IL, Sep. 2024
Anything & Everything Exhibition, Gallery 4 Percent, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 2024
Figurative Art Exhibition Group Show, Dacia Gallery, New York, NY, Nov. 2024
Small Works Exhibition, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, Nov. 2024
By the Foot, Echo Park Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 2024
14th Open Art Exhibition, Light Space Time Gallery, Nov. 2024
2nd Women Only Exhibition, Blue Koi Gallery, Nov. 2024
Small Works Group Show, Chicago Fine Art Salon, Chicago, IL, Dec. 2024
In View 2025, The Art Center, Highland Park, IL, Jan. 2025