Artist Shelly Wierzba has been creating art for 35 years. She studied art and design intermittently since childhood, and more recently with many well known artists including Eric Wiegardt, Alex powers, Christopher Schink, and Skip Lawrence. Painting became a full time devotion after retirement from a career as a family practice Physician Assistant in San Jose, California. Wierzba lives in Oregon with her husband, Joe, “Grammy Pat”, and Sam, their Portuguese water dog.
“I believe that passion for the subject is the prerequisite for a successful artwork. An artist’s passion is always quite obvious. A painting is not about a realistic impression of a subject, but rather about capturing the essence.” Wierzba finds it fulfilling to help others discover their creative self and share in their excitement. “I’ve worked with people all my life and teaching and making art is just plain fun! When I began painting I favored watercolor. Now I'm working more in oils and find excitement when face to face with a large canvas."
Shelly’s work has been exhibited throughout Oregon in solo and group shows and hangs in private and corporate collections across the United States. She was the resident artist for Travel and Leisure's top rated lodge in the United States; Tu Tu'Tun on the Rogue River, where she enjoyed giving guests a “watercolor experience” to remember.
Shelly Wierzba is a juried member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, and past president of Curry Arts Association in Curry County, Oregon.
Solo Exhibitions July 2008 The Plaza Gallery invitational exhibit at the Rogue Valley Manor in Medford, Oregon featured the artist's contemporary figure and landscape paintings. Wierzba’s emotional series titled “In the Realm of Child Abuse and Neglect” has been shown in Portland, Coos Bay, Brookings, Warm Springs Indian Reservation, and Gold Beach Oregon from 2002 to 2005.
Featured Artist Exhibitions include April 2008 Biscuit Gallery, Gold Beach, Oregon; September 2007,Words and Pictures Gallery, Brookings, Oregon; September 2006, Biscuit Gallery, Gold Beach, Oregon; and March 2003, Cottonwood Gallery, Coos Bay, Oregon.
Juried Exhibitions and Awards (abbreviated list)
2009 Plein Air Painters of Oregon Juried show, High Desert Gallery, Bend, Oregon.
2009 Watercolor Society of Oregon Juried Fall show, McMinnville, Oregon.
2008 Mirror Pond Gallery Juried Exhibit, Bend, Oregon.
2008 Watercolor Society of Oregon juried show, Hood River, Oregon
2007 BAAA regional juried show, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, Oregon.
2006 Curry Arts Association Spring Show – First and Second Place Awards.
2005 North West Watercolor Society national juried show – Artistic Achievement Award.
Corporate Collectors include A. C. Streich, LLC, Brookings, Oregon; Gold Beach Books, Inc., Gold Beach, Oregon; and Integrated Medical Arts, Inc., Bath, Maine. Additionally her work is in many private collections across Oregon and the United States.
Gallery Representation in Gold Beach Oregon includes Biscuit Fine Arts Gallery; and Words and Pictures Gallery in Brookings, Oregon.
