Sharon Paster is a Sausalito-based contemporary painter, creating semi-abstract images from the Marin landscape, the bay, the beach and its people. She uses oil pigment sticks almost exclusively. Paster layers oil colors, plays with space, and contrasts the solid with the ephemeral—the fixed with the fluid—to explore the transitions about to take place. The surface is often calm, but the tension is ever-present. Everything pulsates with life. Education: BA Brandeis University, Phi Beta Kappa, Fine Arts Concentration (1976)College of Marin, Graduate Studies in Painting and Sculpture (2012) Selected Exhibitions: 2024Sausalito Center for the Arts, Bay Area Figurative invitational show (Jan)Cami Art + Wine, Calistoga, group invitational shows (Feb, Apr)Marin Open Studios (May)O’Hanlon Center, Mill Valley, juried national women’s show (July)ICB/ART Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2023Art Market SF, Alessandro Berni Gallery (Apr)Cami Art + Wine, “Mustard” “Cake” and “Winter” group showsMarin Open Studios (May)ICB/ART Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2022De Young Museum, Pictures of People, online juried show (May)Crocker Museum, Sacramento, juried auction show (June)Marin Open Studios (May)Marin MOCA, juried auction show (Sept)O’Hanlon Center, juried national Women’s show (Oct)ICB Gallery 111, 3-person Figurative show (Nov)Sausalito Bay Model, ICB group show (Dec) 2021The Artist Alliance/Jen Tough Gallery, online juried show (Feb)Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA, group show (Feb)Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, national juried show (May-July)Marin Open Studios (May) The White Barn, Her Story in America, invitational, St Helena CA (Aug) 2020DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, Bay Area Art juried exhibition (Sept-Jan 2021)The Artist Alliance/Jen Tough Gallery, online juried show (Aug)Marin Open Studios, online show (Sept)TEDx Marin Artist Showcase, online juried show (Sept)UCSF Cancer Center, San Francisco, permanent group installation (Sept)O’Hanlon Center, Mill Valley, CA, online national juried show (Sept) 2019 Jen Tough Gallery, Benicia, CA, “Flora and Fauna,” juried group show (Feb)O’Hanlon Art Center, Mill Valley, CA, “About Lines,” juried group show (May)ICB Art Center, Sausalito, CA, “Amuse Me” group show (May)Marin Open Studios (May) 2018 Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, CA, ICB Artists group show (Nov-Dec) San Diego Art Fair, Opus Collective, San Diego, CA (Oct)San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA “Connect and Collect” group show (Oct)Jen Tough Gallery Dogpatch Pop-up, San Francisco, “New Lands” invitational show (Oct)Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA “After Dark,” juried group show (Sept)Marin Community Foundation, 25th Anniversary Open Studios Invitational (Sept)Bay Area Women Artists, O’Hanlon Art Center, Mill Valley, CA, juried group show (Aug)Throckmorton Theatre Gallery, Mill Valley, CA solo show (July)Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mill Valley, CA invitational group show (Mar) Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, Winter Show (Nov)201 California Lobby, SF, solo show curated by William Torphy Fine Arts (July)Marin Open Studios (May)ICB Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2017 The Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA, 2-person show (Mar)Village Theatre Art Gallery, Danville, CA, invitational group show (Mar)Bay Area Women Artists, O’Hanlon Art Center, Mill Valley, CA, juried group show (Aug)Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, Winter Show (Nov)Marin Open Studios (May)ICB Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2016 The Studio Shop Gallery, Burlingame, CA group show (Nov)Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM, permanent library installation Bay Area Women Artists, O’Hanlon Center, Mill Valley, CA (Aug)Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, SF, Winter Show (Nov)Marin Open Studios (May)ICB Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2015 Google SF Headquarters, 4th Floor Lobby (Nov)Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, solo show (July)Bay Area Women Artists, O’Hanlon Arts Center, juried group show (Aug)Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Winter Show (Nov)Marin Open Studios (May)ICB Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2014 Ruby Living Design, Mill Valley, CA, group show (Apr)Marin Open Studios (May)ICB Winter Open Studios (Dec) 2013 Art Market, SF Art Fair, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts (May)Sausalito Women’s Club, Centennial Invitational group show (Dec)Marin Open Studios (May) 2012 Marin Masters, Outdoor Art Club, Mill Valley, CA, Invitational Show (Feb)Marin Decorator Showcase, Belvedere, CA (Feb)Falkirk 100 Invitiational, San Rafael, CAMarin Open Studios (May) 2011 The Depot, Mill Valley, CA, solo show (Nov)Noci Gelateria and Gallery, solo show (Oct)Marin Open Studios (May) 2010 San Anselmo Town Hall, San Anselmo, CA, solo show (Oct)College of Marin Emeritus Center, Kentfield, CA solo show (July)Editions Limited Gallery, Emeryville, CA (July)Marin Open Studios (May) 2009 Donna Seager Gallery, San Rafael, CA, figurative group show (Oct)Falkirk Annual Juried Exhibition, San Rafael, CA (May)Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA, “Wet Paint” group show (Aug)Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Juried BiennialHershon Hartley Design, San Anselmo, CA, 2-person show (Oct)Marin Open Studios (May) 2008 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA, group show (Dec)Marin Community Foundation, Novato, CA, group show (Oct)Art League of Northern California Annual National Juried Exhibition (Aug)Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA, “Wet Paint” group show (June)Hershon Hartley Design, San Anselmo, CA, 2-person show (Apr)Marin Open Studios (May) 2007 College of Marin Fine Arts Gallery, Kentfield, CA, 3-person show (Oct)Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Juried BiennialNapa Valley Mustard Festival, juried show (Jan)Marin Open Studios (May) 2006 Marin Arts Council Members Exhibit, Marin Civic Center142 Throckmorton Theatre Gallery, Mill Valley, CA, solo showArt League of Northern California Annual National Juried Exhibition (Aug)Marin Open Studios (May) 2005 Artisans Gallery, Mill Valley, CA, juried showSonoma Valley Museum of Art, juried BiennialMarin Open Studios 2004 College of Marin “Faces of the Fallen” participating artist, traveling showMarin Open Studios 2003 Marin Open Studios 2002 Mill Valley Art Commission, Mill Valley Community Center, 2-person showMarin Open Studios 2001 Marin Open Studios Juried Art Auctions (Charitable Donations): Crocker Museum (2022)Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (2022)San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, Connect and Collect (Oct 2017-2018)Art for AIDS, San Francisco (Oct 2015-2018)Lymelight Foundation, Lyme disease “Dart for Art” (May 2015-2018)Hair-to-Stay Foundation, SF, Breast Cancer Treatment (2018)CASA, Marin Advocates for Children (2016-2017) Publications: Artist Close-up Magazine, international (2023)Studio Visit Magazine (2022)House Beautiful (Feb 2019)San Francisco Magazine (Feb 2018)Marin Magazine (July 2017)Luxe Magazine (Sept 2017)American Artwork, Alcove Books (2017)Serena & Lily Catalog (May 2011-June 2017)American Art Collector, Alcove Books, Juried Competition of New Work (2004-2016)Macmillan Publishing, Macroeconomics Textbook Cover (2015)Artwork, Volume 38, Issue 7 (Sept 2007)Art of Northern California, Alcove Books (2003-2016) Other: Juror, Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival (2017)Juror, Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, Art Selection Committee (2016)Board of Directors, ICB Artists Association (2015-present)