Sharon Havelka constructs mixed media quilt sculptures from old clothes and other used materials and found objects. Her work highlights the marginalized, the overlooked, that which is considered weird or unusual, and sews them into beautifully crafted and highly detailed objects. She is inspired by her unique upbringing as a descendent of the Delta Chinese, and from her skills and experience learned as an ICU RN. She was born and lives in Memphis, TN.
Education
2009 Southwest TN Community College, Associates of Applied Science, RN
1994 Memphis College of Art, Bachelor’s of Fine Art, Majoring in Fine Art Painting
Solo Exhibition
2023 Salmon Skin Fried and Other Delicacies, Beverly+Sam Ross Gallery, CBU, Memphis, TN
Collaborative Installation
2024 Amalgamation, with Charles Havelka, Germantown Community Library, Germantown, TN
Two-Person Exhibition
2023 Overstuffed, A Sister Show, with Paula Kovarik, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN
6Points Group Exhibitions
2024 The Meeting Room, STCC Gallery, Memphis, TN
2023 2Sides / 6Points, UT Martin Fine Arts Gallery, Martin, TN
Juried Group Exhibitions
2024 Art of the South, Number: Inc., Stove Works, Chattanooga, TN
2022 Choice, Marshall Arts, Memphis, TN
Art of Science, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN
Fiberart International, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2021 Quilt National, The Dairy Barn Arts Center, traveling exhibit
Memphis 21, The Dixon Gallery, Memphis, TN
Art Quilt Elements 2020, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2020 62nd Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
2019 Color Schemes, Crosstown Arts West Gallery, Memphis, TN
3D Expressions, Studio Art Quilt Association, traveling exhibit
Fiber Focus, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Art of the South, Number: Inc., Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
BLUE, Crosstown Arts East Gallery, Memphis, TN
2018 Homeward Bound, Crosstown Arts West Gallery, Memphis, TN
Quilt + Resist, Women Made Gallery, Chicago, Il
WAR Paint!, Artspace Lofts, Memphis, TN
Invitational Gallery Shows
2024 Rising Up!, Francine Kelly Gallery, Oak Bluffs, MA
Between Heaven and Earth, We Build Our Home, UrbanArts Commission, Memphis, TN
2023 Asian American in the South, Museum of Science and History, Memphis, TN
2022 Memphis Airport Concourse B, Memphis, TN
2020 Arts Accelerator Exhibit, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN
Awards / Residencies / Grants
Quilt National 21’
Crosstown Artists Residency, Memphis, TN
ArtsAccelerator Grant, ArtsMemphis, Memphis TN
In Collections
Delta Chinese Museum, Cleveland, MS
UrbanArt Commission Movable Collection, Memphis, TN
Invitational Gallery Shows
2024 Rising Up!: A Multi-Cultural Celebration of Stitched Fine Art, Francine Kelly Gallery, Oak Bluffs, MA
2024 Between Heaven and Earth, We Build Our Home, UrbanArts Commission, Memphis, TN
2023 Asian American in the South, Museum of Science and History, Memphis, TN
2022 Memphis Airport Concourse B, Memphis, TN
2020 Arts Accelerator Exhibit, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN
Grants / Awards
Quilt National 21’
Crosstown Artists Residency, Memphis, TN
ArtsAccelerator Grant, ArtsMemphis, Memphis TN
In Collections
Delta Chinese Museum, Cleveland, MS
UrbanArt Commission Movable Collection, Memphis, TN
2023, photo by Charles Havelka