Sharon Cosgrove

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Born in Washington DC, the artist Sharon Cosgrove is a Professor of Art based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where she maintains a private studio and teaches undergraduate courses in painting and printmaking. She holds a BFA, MA, and MFA from the University of New Mexico and a BA from Shepherd College. Her paintings and prints have been exhibited in over fifty invitational, solo, and juried shows, nationally and internationally and can be found in both public and private collections.

Serving in an “ambassadorial” role for cross-cultural exchange, Sharon’s work has been selected for the Art in Embassies Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and will be displayed at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. As part of this program, she also traveled to Kazakhstan in March 2012 to offer presentations and master classes in conjunction with women’s history month. Sharon is the recipient of the Medici Award in Painting from the International Biennale Exhibition of Contemporary Art, in Florence, Italy, and has been Visiting Artist at the Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia, The International School of Art in Umbria Italy, and The American Academy in Rome. By student nomination, Sharon received the Non-Traditional and Innovative Teaching Award at Wilkes University where she has served as professor of art for more than two decades.

Additionally, she has been awarded faculty development grants and sabbaticals to further her studio practice and commitment to teaching art. Sharon has taught in Florence, Italy and facilitated group painting and mural projects with international artists, students, and victims of domestic violence. Her work has been the catalyst for personal, professional, and community transformations.