Biographical Info
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Sharon Beckman has created art and graphic design throughout her life. She studied the fine arts at the University of Nebraska in Kearney. After graduating, Beckman received a scholarship to live and paint in Paris, which she did for two years prior to starting her design career. She spent most of her professional career as a graphic designer and art director in New York City at non-profits, including BAM and Carnegie Hall.
She has collected ephemera and other source materials, such as old photos, postcards, and stamps, for years. These items, particularly those with discolorations and imperfections, serve as a basis for her work. Beckman invents narratives when creating her collages. She purposefully works small in order to draw viewers in close to interact with the art, inviting them to build their own narratives. She has had recent solo exhibits in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Madison, WI. Beckman returned to the Midwest after meeting her husband, Ron Pile, a now-retired airline pilot. They live in rural Iowa City.
