Shelby Shadwell

Shelby Shadwell is a Professor of Art at the University of Wyoming, specializing in large-scale charcoal and pastel drawings. Her practice focuses on material exploration, socio-political commentary, and meditative labor. She is a 2023 recipient of the Stone & DeGuire Contemporary Art Award ($25,000), which supported her transition to painting and funded 15+ exhibitions, including solo shows in New York and Santa Fe. Her work engages themes of environmental urgency, material transformation, and cultural polarities.

Education: BFA in Studio Art from Washington University in St. Louis (2003). Teaching philosophy emphasizes fostering student curiosity and excitement for art, rooted in her own transformative experiences as a student. Recent research includes series like 'Big Coal' (2023) and 'Space Blanket' (2023), which critique fossil fuels and climate emergencies through visual metaphor.

Awards: 2023 Stone & DeGuire Award, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington Biennial invitation (2024). Exhibitions: Strata Gallery (Santa Fe), Kentler International Drawing Space (Brooklyn), Western Illinois University. Professional activities include visiting artist demonstrations and grant-funded research.