Lisa Sheirer - Artist
Lisa Sheirer is a visual artist living and working in Frederick, Maryland. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from West Virginia University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Notre Dame. Ms. Sheirer has been creating artwork for over 45 years.
Lisa works in a variety of mediums. Pixels, clay, inks, paint, pulp painting, wood, glass, found objects, and cast metals, are among the materials she uses. Natural flora, fauna, and mycoflora have been the basis for Lisa’s work over the last 20 years. She has an active social media account showing plant life through the seasons in the Catoctin mountains. Plants are documented using photography and citizen scientific research. Lisa’s art series spring from her observations.
Sheirer’s public art projects include a ceramic mural at Baltimore Washington International Airport commissioned by the Maryland Department of Transportation and a glass mural installation in Western MD Health System's lobby. Lisa has participated in many solo and group art exhibitions. Lisa is an artist in residence at the Y Art Center where her gallery and studio are located.
In the fall of 2023, 2 artist books (WaterShed & A Book of Ghosts) about regional plant and animal life were self-published by Lisa. The books can be purchased regionally. Several exhibitions of WaterShed will be shown regionally and Lisa looks forward to a November solo exhibition at Gaslight Gallery.
Resume
EDUCATION
M.F.A. (Painting & Sculpture) - 1982 - University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. Recipient of Two Year Full Teaching Scholarship, Graduate Teaching Assistant, & Stipend. Graduate Assistant to: Moira Geoffrion (Fiber Sculpture, Papermaking)
& Mary Miss (Site Specific Sculpture)
B.F.A. (Painting & Printmaking) - 1979 - West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. Recipient of Excellence in the Arts Scholarship Tuition Waver Award in 1978 & 1979. Studied with Colin M. Turnbull (Anthropologist) Tom Nakashima (Painting & Printmaking) & Will Petersen (Printmaking)
EMPLOYMENT
Professor, Program Manager for Digital Media, Computer Graphics & Photography — 1999 - 2019, Frederick Community College, Frederick, MD. Position is responsible for the instruction of undergraduate level classes and coordination of the digital media, computer graphics and photography program. Supervisor for all Computer Graphics, Digital Media (Print & Web) & Photography student internships.
Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Frostburg State University — 1993 - 1999. Early tenured, full time faculty teaching classes in beginning and advanced level graphic design. It was a B.F.A. program where students received 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Art & Design. During my time at FSU, I wrote, received and administered a $250,000.00 federal grant to upgrade the graphic design program facilities. The federal grant was from The Appalachian Regional Commission.
CURRENT RESIDENCY
Y Art Center Artist in Residence (AIR) Studio Program - Artist in residence, October 2021 - Present, 115 E. Church St., Frederick, Maryland
PORTFOLIO COLLECTION
“Will Petersen Tribute Portfolio”, A suite of prints curated by William Roseberry. The prints were made out of respect to our late professor, mentor and friend. My print “An occasion for philosophy” was included with artists: Cynthia Archer, Daniel Bratton, Joel Collins, Michael Croydon, Frieda Dean, Gayle Dykeman, Claudia Giannini, Sharon Goodman, MC Griffin, Richard Hunt, Yvonne Leonard, Mark Lowe, Jim McCormick, Tom Nakashima, Beth Nelson, Mark Perlman, William Roseberry, Gary Snyder, Gary Schubert, Lisa Sheirer, Ron Skidmore, Florence Studer, and Madisyn Taylor.
The portfolio was produced and completed in 2012, it resides in the following collections: Benedictine University Permanent Art Collection, Koehnline Museum of Art at Oakton Community College, Elora Poetry Centre, Ontario CA, Poetry Collection at SUNY Buffalo, Special Collections, Meyer Library, California College of the Arts, UC-Davis Manuscripts Collection, Kent State University Library Special Collections Special Collections & Preservation, Michigan State University Libraries, International Teacher Development Institute - Japan, Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections, Northwestern University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries, The Humanities and Book Arts Collection, McCabe Library, and Swarthmore College.
EXHIBITIONS
“Planet A: Book Arts, Frederick Book Arts Center” - An art exhibition of Book Arts and related media by artists from the FBAC Community that explore, commemorate and concern the planet earth. Curated by Rula Jones. Blackrock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, April - July, 2022
“Reflections on Nature” - Work inspired by nature. Margaret Polcawich, Mary Waldhorn, & Lisa Sheirer. Eastside Artist Gallery, March 2022
“TAG Invitational Show, 31st Anniversary Show” - Flora & Fauna Visitation Series - Ghost Buck, The Artist Gallery, Frederick, MD, December, 2021 - January 2022
“water”, Water Stories - Lilipons chosen by Juror, Doug Beasley, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, September 10 to October 31, 2021
“BLOOM Art Exhibit Flourishes: 29 Pieces, 17 Artists”, Curated by Rula Jones, Gallery 115 at The Y Arts Center Frederick, MD June 18 - September 5, 2021
“botanical” - Juried Exhibition, 3 Photos from “Big Woo - Pansy Ghost” Series were selected by juror Wendi Schneider, Juror’s choice award, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, June 4 to July 18, 2021
“Botanicals” - Paintings and prints by Lisa Sheirer, Jo Fleming Contemporary Art, Annapolis, MD, May 2021
“INK IT: Contemporary Print Practices” - Biennial Printmaking Exhibit Juried by Susan J. Goldman Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, February 27 - April 10, 2021
“Printmakers of Frederick Book Arts” - “Big Woo - Red Trees” semi-permanently installed, Frederick Arts Council, Frederick, Maryland. December 2020 - present
“Tree Spirits” - Selected woodturners from throughout Maryland join artistic forces with local Frederick artists for an exhibition of handcrafted woodturning presented alongside tree-inspired paintings, carvings, and photographs. Wall art selected by Kesra Hoffman. Delaplaine Visual Arts and Education Center, Frederick MD. December 2020
“The Big Woo” - New prints, mixed media, and paintings by Lisa Sheirer & Jason Mills, NOMA Gallery, Frederick, MD November 2019.
“Partterre” - Floral Prints by Lisa Sheirer, Jo Fleming Contemporary Art, Annapolis, MD, June - July 2019 & 2020
“NOMA at The Allegany Arts Council”, Saville Gallery, curator and participant in a show of NOMA Gallery members, Cumberland, MD May 2019
“The One House Project” - Artwatch DC, Blackrock Center for the Arts, Gaithersburg, MD December 2018 - January 2019
“New Work by Lisa Sheirer & John Wise” - Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Curated by Mary Weiss-Waldhorn, September 2018
“Lovingly Destroying the Grid” - New Work by Jason Mills & Lisa Sheirer”, Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery, Frederick Community College, Frederick, MD, June 2018
“Circle of Life”, New art by Pamela Hall & Lisa Sheirer, NOMA Gallery, Frederick, Maryland, October 2017
“Birch, Mickey, & Sheirer - Thread, Clay & Pixels”, 3 artist exhibition, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, Maryland, June 2017
“Frederick Arts Council Member Exhibition”, Invited by the FAC to exhibit with aritists Jenna Gianni, John Nicholas Hutchings, Ann Schaefer, Lisa Sheirer, Cathy Wilkin - Gallery down below at VOLT Restaurant, February, 2017
“Focal Point Digital Art”, National Juried Exhibition Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland, February, 2017
“Visual Prayers”, New art by Anne Quinlan and Lisa Sherier, NOMA Gallery, Frederick, Maryland, December 2016
“Water Works”, National Juried Exhibition Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland, August, 2016
“Impossible Dreams, Works by faculty and students of: Frederick Community College, Goucher College, Hood College, & Stevenson University”, Hood College Center for the Humanities Colloquium, 2016
“Fluent Magazine” article pulished about my current artwork. Fluent is a regional art publication based in Shepherdstown, WV - May 2016
“Drawing Philosophies”, Chosen to show ceramics in a group exhibition curated by Lori Ruebling, Case[werks] Gallery, Baltimore, MD, January 2015
“Digital Grammar” - New prints by Lisa Sheirer & Mike Thompson,
Dante’s Gallery, Frostburg, MD, & Zito Art Gallery, Cumberland, MD August 2014
“Nature’s ARTcade - A Regional Art Exhibit”, Juried Exhibition, Curated by Margaret Dowell
Flag Ponds Nature Park, Lusby, MD, June 2014
“Broadsides, Art & Poetry” - Frostburg Museum, Honorable Mention,
Frostburg State University Center for Creative Writing, April 2014
“Artists Explore Environments”, Juried Exhibition, Winner Best in Show for “Monocacy” in 2014,
Frostburg Museum, Curated by Maggie Pratt, November 2013, 2014, 2015
“Rare Earth” - The Darkroom Gallery, Essex Junction, Vermont, My print, “Monocacy River” was selected for this international show of earth related photos. 2013
“Iron Tribe Juried Exhibition”, International Iron Pouring Artist Symposium, curated by David Lobdell, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM, 2013
“Allegany Arts Council Members Show”, Print, “Garden #1” was selected for this juried show,
Saville Gallery, Allegany Arts Council, November 2013
“Water Stories - Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer”, Curated by Jo Israelson, Stages Premiere & Firehouse Gallery, Washington, DC, Summer 2012
“Objects and Images, New Work by Arnold d’Epagnier – Furniture & Lisa Sheirer – Digital Printmaking”, Gillchrist Gallery, Cumberland, MD, 2012,
“Current Work of Lisa Sheirer”, Artique Underground, Frederick, MD, 2012
“Hillyer Arts Space Anniversary Benefit Auction”, Juried participant, Hillyer Arts Space, Washington DC, 2012
“Something/Nothing Activating the Void”, Juried participant at McLean Project for the Arts, 2012
“Design House”, Participant as an artist with Brian Van Fleet, Interior Designer in, Washington DC 2012
“Artomatic DC”, Participant - Crystal City, Va, May - 2012
“Snap to Grid”, Participant in Los Angeles Center for Digital Art exhibition, 2011
“Artomatic Frederick”, Participant, Artist and volunteer for promotions, 2011 & 2013
“New Work, Digital Prints & Ceramics of Lisa Sheirer - Relief Sculpture & Ceramics”,
Allegany College of Maryland, Hazen Gallery, Cumberland MD, 2011
“New Work - Digital Prints of Lisa Sheirer”, Allegany College of Maryland’s Gilchrist Cafe’
Gallery, Cumberland MD, 2010
“Alfred Stieglitz Equivalents” Exhibition Winner, International Juried Photography, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia 2010
“Color: The Spice of Light”, International juried Photography exhibition, Vermont Photo Space, Essex Junction, Vermont, Selected as Juror’s choice, Best in Show Award, 2010
“Installations & Prints, Recent Work by Gary Greenberg & Lisa Sheirer”, Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery, Frederick Community College, Frederick, MD, 2010
“Drive By Shootings & Other Related Events” - work of the Frederick Photographers Roundtable, The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, MD, 2009
“Signs of Spring”, Group Exhibition, Curated by Toby Mendez, Lafayette Gallery, Frederick, MD, 2009
“DC Foto Week”, Juried Group Exhibition, Curated by Molly Rupert. Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC, 2008
“End of Nature”, Group Show Curated by Ruth Trevarrow, Warehouse Gallery, Washington DC, 2008
“Ink & Glaze 2”, “Ink & Glaze - Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer, Ceramics by Jackie Brown”, Roper Gallery, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD, 2008
“Ink & Glaze - Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer, Ceramics by Jackie Brown”, Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery, Frederick Community College, Frederick, MD, 2007
“Ice Stories - Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer”, September, Hillyer Arts Space, Washington DC, 2007
“Black & White (Almost) - Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer”, Graphicus Atelier, Cumberland, MD, 2007
“The Tree Dreams of Spring, Digital Prints by Lisa Sheirer”, Delaplaine Visual & Education Center, Frederick, MD, 2006
“Lisa Sheirer, Digital Printmaker”, Clarion University Gallery, Clarion, PA, 2005
“Lisa Sheirer & Gary Greenberg”, Saville Gallery, Allegany Arts Council, Cumberland, MD, 2005
“Clay, Paper, Wood - Prints, Sculpture and Ceramics by Jackie Brown & Lisa Sheirer” -
Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery, Frederick Community College, Frederick, MD, 2004
“Solo Exhibition of Digital Prints” - New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM, 2003
“ROADMAPS, Maryland Art Place Traveling Juried Exhibition” - Travels To Baltimore, Maryland Art Place then to University of MD, 1998-2000
COMMISSIONS
2009 - “Ice Stories”, Artwork, Glass mural for main lobby of the Western
Maryland Health System, Cumberland, MD
2002 - 2004 - Architectural Enhancement Program, Baltimore Washington
International Airport, Selected to design by Logan Grant Inc., Baltimore MD, to participate in an architectural enhancement program for the new central garage at BWI airport. The project integrates the work of chosen Maryland artists with the architectural/engineering design of the buildings.
AWARDS & ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2022 - 2023 Frederick Arts Council/National Endowment for the Arts “Create and Activate Now” grant to produce a series of artist books tentatively titled “Ghost Flowers”. Images and text are concerning the effects of climate change on our native plants.
2022 - Present, Artist in Residence at Y Arts Center, Frederick, Maryland. Selected to work in a provided studio located in downtown, Frederick. The studio includes a micro gallery that I share with artist Karin Birch.
2016 - Summer artist residency, Notre Dame Graduate students pour iron at Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum, Solsberry, Indiana.
2015 - Artwork including digital innovation of vectors made from photographs were chosen for inclusion in a book provisionally entitled: “Alternative Photographics Processes” which was published in March 2015 by Focal Press, Written by Brady Wilks
2013 - Participant in “Iron Tribe” - Iron Pouring workshop & artist exhibition at Highlands State University, Las Vegas, New Mexico.
2010 - International Juried Photography Exhibition Winner, Alfred Stieglitz Equivalents Award Winner, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia
2010 - International Juried Photography exhibition, Color: The Spice of Light, Vermont Photo Space, Essex Junction, Vermont, Selected as Juror’s choice, Best in Show.
2001 - Scottish Sculpture Workshop Artist Residency, Sculpture Center, Lumsden, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Invited to participate in a two week long residency to produce
collaborative sculptures with Iron Caster/Artist David Lobdell.
1998 & 2001 - Artist Residency, Artists Invite Artists, Watershed Ceramics Center for the Arts,
Newcastle, Maine. One of 14 artists selected to participate in a two week long residency.
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Y Arts Micro Gallery, Frederick, Maryland 2022 - Present
Jo Flemming Contemporary Art Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland 2019 - Present
Home Before Dawn Gallery, & Gallery 301, Cumberland, Maryland - 2019 - Present
MEMBERSHIPS
Frederick Arts Council, 2000 - Present
Frederick Book Arts Center, founding member, 2017 - Present
AIGA Blue Ridge, 1990 - Present
Pyramid Atlantic, Print & Graphics, Silver Spring, MD, 2013 – Present
Delaplaine Visual Arts & Education Center, 1990 – Present
Allegany Arts Council, 1990 - Present
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Frederick Book Arts Center, Frederick Maryland - Advisory Board Member 2017 Present, Board Secretary 2019 - 2022, Vice President 2019 - 2022
AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts), Blueridge - Board of Directors - Education, 2016 - 2018