David Sheldon received a BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1984, which included a formative year spent painting in Rome, Italy, as part of RISD’s European Honors Program. As a grad student, Sheldon brought sculpture into the mix. His thesis show for his MFA in 1990, at the University of Maryland, incorporated large-scale, mixed-media paintings, as well as sculptural works.
Sheldon continues to create cutting-edge sculptural works in metal, as well as provocative public art. Modernist sculpture, with its emphasis on the dynamics of form and space, continues to be a major influence in his work. Sheldon endeavors to create what he calls "spatial music".
“It’s very satisfying to be able to use my vision as an artist in contributing something both beautiful and stimulating to a community in the public realm, as well as enrich any space, both public and private. Having lived in the Western North Carolina mountains for many years now, I draw from the power and majesty of the mountains, the star-filled skies at night, and a sense that one is connected, in some way, to this vast, mysterious Universe we live in.”
Sheldon’s approach to landscape painting follows the Modernist example of letting ‘paint be paint’, with a strong, expressive, impasto approach inspired by heroes such as Joan Mitchell, Anselm Kiefer, and Vincent Van Gogh. His paintings express deeply personal, transcendental experiences in Nature.
"My landscape paintings are based on what I call 'ecstatic moments' in Nature, where I am struck by the beauty of a scene, and instantly stop in place - being as present as possible, using my inner-attention to descend into my body, taking it all in physically and emotionally. I take a couple of photos for basic reference, but when I get back into the studio to paint, I once again lower my inner-attention back into my body to 're-experience' the moment on canvas - I try to stay out of my head as much as possible. I allow the painting and emotions to guide me - even adding elements or adjusting proportions for emotional impact and connection, as 'directed'. As far as I’m concerned, there’s really no way to depict the sublime reality of Nature with a traditional painting approach, so I don’t even try. But one can still create a painting that is a compelling experience, in its own right, by expressing, through the paint, the artist’s direct experience of Nature (both inner and outer)- and that’s what I try to do”.
Sheldon's 'Anthropological Abstracts' , and 'Paintings of Paintings' are series started over thirty years ago. He prefers to work large, as this invites him to bring his whole body into the metaphysical event: the act of painting. Spiritual, psychological, it becomes an exploration into the Subconscious: brutal, beautiful, ferocious, and mysterious...a cry into the Void, bringing forth beings, half-beings, different dimensions and states of being. The key is remaining impartial to all manifestations. Being 'witness' to his inner-self without judgement. A sort of 'seance in paint'.
As happens, the influence of Art History is latent and strong with Sheldon, and informs the approach to canvas as formal object, and the paint as a visceral medium, having its own voice and input into the process. The depiction of spiritual meaning and truth, as depicted over the epochs of Art History is deeply ingrained in Sheldon's subconscious, as well, and serve as both impetus for exploration and reservoir for approach and understanding. It's an approach that attempts to merge the aesthetics and spirituality of the old masters, with the aesthetics, vibrancy, and philosophies of contemporary art.
EDUCATION
1984 Bachelors of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI.
1990 Master of Fine Arts, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
PUBLIC ART
2025. "Air Stream", "Lyra", Dogwood Arts Program, Knoxville, Tennessee.
2025. "Canary", 7' high painted steel, Harlem Sculpture Gardens, New York, NY.
2022 "Eco-Friendly", 10' high, aluminum entrance sculpture for the Phinizy Water Research Center,
Augusta, Georgia.
2020 “Guidance Tower” , 15’ high, aluminum sculpture, commissioned as the frontispiece for the
City of Roanoke’s new 811/E911 Call Center, Roanoke, VA.
2020 “Fa Sol” , 8’ high, steel sculpture, selected for the Decatur Artway, Decatur, Georgia.
2019 “Orion” , 8’ high, steel sculpture, selected for ‘Salmagundi XXIII”’, by the city of Rocky Mount,NC.
Installed at the AmTrack station in Rocky Mount.
2019 “Oracle”, 8’ high, aluminum sculpture, selected for ‘Roanoke Rising’, by the city of Roanoke, VA.
Installed in Elmwood Art Park, in downtown Roanoke.
2018 “Mars Cutter”, Madison County Manufacturing Art Park, 10’ high sculpture, steel, Mars Hill, NC.
2018 “Ariel”, City of Asheville, Office of the Mayor. Wall sculpture on view in
Mayor Elisabeth Manheimer’s office.
2017 “Alpha Centauri”, Uptown Tree Project, Greeley, Colorado. 20’ high aluminum sculpture.
2016 “Birds of Different Feathers”, Uptown Tree Project, Greeley, Colorado. 20’ high sculptural “tree”
made of one inch thick, painted aluminum forms.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025. Spiers Gallery, "Whistling Past Eternity", sculpture and painting, Brevard College, NC.
2024. The Painting Center, "Openings", new sculpture and paintings, New York, New York
2022 Mark Bettis Gallery, "Conscious Contact", sculpture and paintings, Asheville, NC
2021 Mark Bettis Gallery, “Finding the Light”, sculpture and paintings by David Sheldon.
2020 Mark Bettis Gallery, “Affirmation and Renewal: Connecting to Nature,
New Works by David Sheldon”, sculpture and paintings by David Sheldon.
2018 Tointon Gallery for the Visual Arts, “Murmuration “ Paintings by David Sheldon.
“Field Guide to the Birds of North America” intimate abstractions. Greeley, Colorado.
2017 High Point University, “Ascension”, paintings and sculpture, High Point, NC.
2015 Satellite Gallery, “Dreams and Structures, New Work by David Sheldon”, paintings and sculpture.
Asheville, NC.
1997 Troyer, Fitzpatrick, Lassman Gallery, “Zoologica Mysterium”, paintings and sculpture,
Washington, D.C.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Asheville Area Arts Council, “Beyond Knowing”, An engaging, interactive, multi-media group
show, curated by David Sheldon.
2019 Mark Bettis Studio/Gallery, “828”, Oil paintings on wood, with an Asheville theme.
2017 Ciel Gallery, Charlotte, NC. “Build” group show, sculptural installation.
1995 Ellipse Art Center, “Tributaries”, sculpture, juror, Lee Fleming, art critic, Washington
Post, Arlington,VA.
1995 Maryland Art Place, “Critic’s Picks Show”, paintings, Juror, Faye Hirsch, New York art
critic, Baltimore, MD.
1994 Arlington Arts Center, “Annual Juried Show”, sculpture,Juror,Howard Fox, curator
LACMA, Arlington,VA.
HONORS
2021 Buffalo Creek Art Center, Sculptor Residency. Created "Buffalo Creek Quartet", steel.
Gardnerville, Nevada.
2010 Individual Artist Project Grant, awarded by the Arts Council of Henderson County
and the North Carolina Arts Council.
1995 Awarded First Place, “Tributaries”, group sculpture show, Arlington, VA,
by juror, Lee Fleming, art critic for the Washington Post.
1991 Individual Artist Grant, Maryland State Arts Council.
1990 Smithsonian Institute Internship, awarded to the model making department.
1982 European Honors Program, RISD, one year of study in Rome, Italy.
TEACHING
2008– 2013 Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Instructor of Art : Painting, Art Appreciation, Drawing I, II.
2008-2013 Brevard College, Brevard, North Carolina. Painting, Drawing.
2010-2012 Painting Coordinator, The Green River Preserve, Cedar Mountain, NC
RELATED EXPERIENCE
1990-91 Principle Sculptor’s Assistant to James Sanborn, “Kryptos”, sculptural installation
on the grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, VA.
1992-94 Artist Assistant to William Calfee, Sculptor/painter and originating chairman,
George Washington University Art Department, Washington, D.C.
COLLECTIONS
Public and Private Collections / Nationally, Internationally.