Born to be an artist, Sherry Blanchard Stuart was always drawing, even as a child. She was inspired by her sister, also an artist, and says that the creative gene runs in the family. Ms. Stuart was recognized for her talent at a young age, earning scholarships for art school that helped her obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and graphic art from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1964. Her acclaim has grown steadily since then.
Working in a mostly traditional style, Ms. Stuart paints with a richness of color that illuminates the intensity of sunlight on her subject matter. She enjoys painting landscapes and still life, and experimenting with representational and figurative styles. The majority of her art, however, focuses on western and equine subjects, particularly inspired by the history and tradition of the American West. She often goes to ranches and photo shoots to find her subjects.
Ms. Stuart has displayed her work at a variety of exhibitions and juried art shows over the years. Some notable galleries that have hosted her paintings include the Nichols Fine Art Gallery in New Mexico, the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Washington, the Open Range Gallery and the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center. Ms. Stuart also has pieces in the permanent collections of the Tucson Museum of Art, the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Arizona, the Phippen Museum in Arizona and the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Further, her work can be found in private and corporate collections worldwide.
In recognition of her accomplishments in the field of art, Ms. Stuart received the Award of Merit from the American Academy of Women Artists, the Museum Purchase Award from the Great Plains Art Museum, the Award of Excellence from the Chinese Artists Association of North America and the People’s Choice Award at the Western Art Classic and the American Academy of Women Artists. Additionally, she was honored as Best of Show at the American Plains Artists Annual Show, Best of Show at the Cowgirl Up! at the Desert Caballeros Western Art Museum and Best of Show at the Minnetonka Center of the Arts, where she also took home first place. She has been featured in numerous editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who of American Women, as well as in books such as “Art of the American West” and “A Century of Sanctuary: The Art of Zion National Park.” Ms. Stuart was also mentioned in “Southwest Art,” “The American Artist,” “Cowboys and Indians,” “Western Horseman,” “The Illustrator,” “Wildlife Art” and “Appaloosa Journal.”
To ensure she remains abreast of developments in her field, Ms. Stuart is a member of the Phippen Western Art Museum Miniature Masterpiece Museum Show, Western Artists of America, American Women Artists and American Master Signature. Other prestigious affiliations include the American Plains Artists, Oil Painters of America, the American Academy of Women Artists and Creative Women of Pinnacle Peak.
When she is not working, Ms. Stuart enjoys antiquing, photography, cooking, golf and horseback riding.
