Artist Statement

Over the past 30 years, I have exhibited my textiles, prints, drawings and collage-work across North America and the UK. More recently, I have been doing medium- and large-scale commissions in both textiles and glass. My work is inspired by traditional textiles, ritual objects, and symbols from different religions and cultures as well as by the natural world. I incorporate traditional handwork methods alongside new technologies; the resulting vocabulary is used to develop nature-inspired imagery and to reimagine traditional symbols, such as the Tree of Life, to express the cycles of life, and to reflect on growth, change and hope. In my art, I explore memory, experience, history, and culture to celebrate life stories of joy, hardship, loss, resilience, and love.

In recent years, my practice has expanded to include working in glass, focusing on the unique qualities of the medium in relation to the interplay of transparency and opacity, exploring the qualities of light and texture and infusing transparent surfaces with light and color through rich, luminous layers. In particular, the constant changes in color that happen with stained glass depending on the weather, the seasons, and times of day, resonate with the flow and changes of life, and reflect the diversity of human experience.

Over the past two years, I have embodied the act of rewilding by collecting, drawing, and printing plants during my various travels attending art residencies, most recently at Cove Park in Scotland.

The garden’s life cycle offers perspective on aging, dying, and decomposition. It is not only an indication of resistance towards natural processes but also a manifestation of the impact humans has on our sacred lands through climate change. The images of plants that I have created demonstrate the human impact on our environment such as the overcrowding from buildings and concrete prevalent within cities today. My process of printing the plants and then erasing them using scrubbing techniques is an act of trying to bring back and rewild the beauty, setting out in search of our environment’s true nature. I was surrounded by natural plants, that co-exist in both a natural and human-planted area.

Recently, I worked with the staff at Kensington Hospice in Toronto to create a light panel depicting an allium plant that was etched and painted onto a light-filled glass surface to evoke a sense of the passage of time.

I have worked collaboratively with architects, interior designers, and lighting specialists to develop built-in artistic projects that are sensitive to the aesthetic requirements of the architectural space and the functionality of the site.

For more information or a copy of Sharon's resume please email sharon@sharonsepsteintextiles.com.