Shari Fox

Few Words About Me

I graduated from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in 1994, and a Post-Baccalaureate degree in Studio Art in 1995. I received a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996. I have been teaching art at Shrewsbury High School ever since. While teaching, I try to create and exhibit my own artwork as much as possible and continue to take classes whenever I can. 

For many years, my artwork was inspired by art from other cultures. I took several trips to Asia on which I photographed and collected images to incorporate in my work. I did work inspired by a trip I took to Hong Kong in 1998, Indonesia in1999, and Japan in 2003. These pieces are about layering images and seeing through parts of these layers and incorporate collage, painting, and printmaking.

Following that, my art began to reflect the changes in my life. My work continued to use maps to symbolize my travels but juxtaposed with symbols for my desire to settle down. I used symbols like clock parts, bird’s eggs, windows and a white picket fence to represent this shift. The summer before my wedding, the tree became a strong symbol in my work. 

At the same time that I was creating pieces about love, I was creating pieces about loss. I did many pieces of artwork to deal with my father's battle with Diabetes. I created pieces about his legs being amputated, as well as the heart and kidney disease that are complications of Diabetes. My wedding was soon followed by my father’s passing. My artwork was my way of dealing with my feelings associated with both.

And now that I have children of my own, my artwork turns from the previous generation to the next. My children sometimes appear in my artwork but more often I use symbols for the emotions that accompany motherhood. As I have traveled the world and come back to make a home and a family, my artwork has reflected this. As I turn from the loss of a father to the gain of a husband and children, my artwork reflects those losses and gains.

My most recent work is about the pandemic. Covid19 is reflected in my artwork, especially in my sketchbook. Many of my recent sketches start with a journal entry as a base layer. My paintings now include a base layer of newspaper articles about Covid19 and images of my family wearing masks. My artwork will be forever be changing with my life and reflecting what is going on in the world.