ARTISTS: Sharon Engelstein
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Sharon Engelstein
Sharon Engelstein deals with the tension, humor and novelty in anthropomorphic constructions. Her work is derived from both the organic and the manufactured, and evokes issues of identity, sexuality, technology, and nature. Engelstein's past work has been inspired by industrial design, inflatables, and children's toys. Her bulbous forms resembling pared-down animals appeal to our instinct for tenderness and sentimentality. At the same time, Engelstein's sculptures, however cute or disarming, raise many questions about human desire, fetishes, and the tenuous relationship between the corporeal and mass-produced.
Sharon Engelstein's solo exhibitions include Tethertwin, at the Sioux City Art Center, Iowa, 2004; and Shapey, at the Mixture Gallery, Houston, 2004. Her group exhibitions include From the States, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC; New Files, New Territories, at the Gregory Lind Gallery, 2002; and Bandy, with Aaron Parazette, at the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa, 2002. Engelstein's distinctions include her participation in the International Artist in Residence Program, at ArtPace, San Antonio, 2002; and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, 1995. She holds a MFA in Sculpture from Claremont Graduate School, and is based in Houston.