BIOGRAPHY

BORN 1979, UK. Lives in Glasgow

EDUCATION

2004    MFA, New York Academy of Art, USA
2001    BFA, Glasgow School of Art, UK

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021    Rural Rides, New Glasgow Society, Glasgow, UK
            Tit and Cock, The Mandrake Gallery, Las Cruces, New Mexico
            Herstory Portrait: A Decade On, Royal Glasgow Institute, UK
2019    Barberium, Cassart Gallery, Glasgow, UK
            Herstory Portrait, Leeds College of Art, Leeds, UK
2017    Curators Choice, Leeds College of Art, Leeds, UK
2015    Mary Barbour: Centenary of Rent Restriction Act, Trongate 103, Glasgow, UK
            Herstory Portrait, Lillie Art Gallery, Glasgow, UK
2012    Herstory Portrait (in tandem with Equals), Paisley Museum, Paisley, UK
2011     Herstory Portrait, Glasgow Trades Hall, Glasgow, UK
2009    Tales of Shiney-Shiney, The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford, UK
            First Class, The Grand, Grand St, Brooklyn, NYC, USA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023     From the Big Splash to the Last Splash, Terrace Gallery, London, UK

2022     SSA 130 Years Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

            Paint Talk, Glasgow, (Sarah Grant, Ben Risk, Sharon Thomas, Michael Antkowiak, Michael Clarence, Olivia Irvine, Daisy Richardson and Sam Douglas), Trongate 103, Glasgow, UK

2021    Marks Left Behind: NYAA Recollections, Connections and Impact of 9/11, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA
            Pretty Ugly, Saltspace, Glasgow, UK
            Summer Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA
2020    Not Going Back to Normal, Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, UK (online exhibition)
            Loopin, Six Foot Gallery, Glasgow, UK
            Homeworks, Spilt Milk, Edinburgh, UK (online exhibition and publication)
            Embody Without Burden, Royal Glasgow Institute, Glasgow, UK
            Summer Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA (online exhibition)
2019    Feminist Public Sculpture, Leeds College of Art, UK
2016    Beyond Epilepsy, Intermedia, CCA, Glasgow, UK
2015    20/20, Trongate 103, Glasgow, UK
            Vokse-Vaerk: Museum Collection Of The Last 20 Years, Museet For Religios Kunst, Lemvig, Denmark
2014    Trongate Collective, Trongate 103, Glasgow, UK
2013    21 Revolutions, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
2012    21 Revolutions, CCA, Glasgow, UK
            Summer Exhibition, Allegra Laviola, New York, NY, USA
2011    Sharon Thomas/Giacinto Occhionero/Scott Grodesky, (e) merge, Washington, DC, USA
            9/11: A New York Dectology, Project Room, Glasgow, UK
            Loop, Tramway, Glasgow, UK
2010    Preview to a site (Art Athina 2010), Solonos 42, Athens, Greece
            Sara Jessie Kane, Sharon Thomas, Edwina Ashton, Teverina Fine Art, Cortona, Italy
            Artists for Athens Pride, Breeder Gallery, Athens, Greece
2009    Mother/mother, Air Gallery, New York, USA
            Re-Birth, Cherry Pit Gallery, Burlington, Vermont, USA
            Sublime to the Ridiculous, Plaka, Athens, Greece
            183rd Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, UK
2008    The Mundane Shell: Glasgow International, (two-person show with Laurence Figgis),
            Glasgow Print Studio, Glasgow, UK

2006    Risky Business, PPOW Gallery, New York, NY, USA
            Overlap 3, The British School at Rome, Rome, Italy
            Salon 2006, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY, USA
            Britishness (Another Product), British Art Show 6, Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK
2005    Theme of the Unseen, Times Square Gallery, New York, USA
            Visual Aids: Postcards from the Edge, Roger Miller Gallery, New York, USA
            Underground, Creek and the Cave Gallery, Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA
2004    Reality Check, Spike Gallery, New York, USA
2002    Independent Space, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
            Young Scottish Painters, Phillip’s Auctioneers, Edinburgh, UK
            Winter Show, Philips Contemporary Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
2001     New Generation Scotland, Compass Gallery, Glasgow, UK
             Snatch, Vic Bar, Glasgow, UK

ART FAIRS
2005     Art Chicago, Butler Field, Chicago, IL, USA. (Represented by Jack the Pelican Presents)
             Flash Art Fair, Una Hotel Tocq, Milano, Italy. (Represented by Jack the Pelican Presents)

2002     Affordable Art Fair, New York, Pier 92, New York, NYC, USA.

             Take Home a Nude, Sotheby’s, NYC, New York, USA

FILM PROJECTS
2019      Zone Out, Associate Producer/Story Consultant, (Director: Linda Campbell), Glasgow, UK

SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS
2019      1st Prize winner: Film: Zone Card, International Epilepsy Day, Dublin, Ireland
2009      Guthrie Award, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
2008      Glasgow Visual Artists Grant Scheme, Glasgow, UK
2003      International Council Travel Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA
2002      Sainsbury Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA
2001      Villore Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA
              Jock Macfie Prize, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, UK
2000      Hart Bursary, Glasgow School of Art, Glashow, UK

RESIDENCIES 

2005      Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture, British School at Rome, Rome, Italy

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2022      Saffron Live with Sharon Thomas, 11 March 2022, Sunny Govan Radio https://www.mixcloud.com/SunnyG103/saffron-11th-march-2022/

2018      Sharon Thomas: Mary Barbour Wikipedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Barbour
              Sharon Thomas: Mary Barbour, Artuk.org https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mary-barbour-monument-309255

2016      Borderland of Epilepsy: Online blog collaboration and installation exhibition, CCA, Glasgow, UK https://borderlandofepilepsy.com/
              Flow Magazine, Issue 17, p.8 http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/1148620/flow_issue_17final.pdf

2015      Janice Forsyth Show, BBC Radio Scotland, Mary Barbour interview with Edie Stark, Nov 2015 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ns0cc

2014      Mansfield, S., A Perfect Birthday, The Scotsman Weekend Life Magazine, 2015. p16-17 

               https://sharonthomas.co.uk/mansfield-s-2015-a-perfect-birthday-the-scotsman-weekend-life-magazine-p16-17-8-3-2015/

2013      Monument to Mary Barbour, Newsnight Scotland: Interview with BBC Laura Maxwell, May 2013

2012     Artist Sharon Thomas on documenting the life of Mary Barbour, BBC Radio Scotland Morning Show interview, 8 March 2012 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-17304239

             International Women's Day celebrates the life of Mary Barbour (article), 9 March 2012, BBC Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17304237

             McMeekin, E. New Artwork to celebrate the life of Govan Heroine, The Herald Scotland, March 2012

              https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13049820.New_artwork_to_celebrate_the_life_of_Govan_heroine/
              Kotze, T. Glasgow Women’s Library hosts group exhibitions 21 Revolutions, The List, 7 September 2012

              https://www.list.co.uk/article/45243-glasgow-womens-library-hosts-group-exhibition-21-revolutions/
              Morag. Equals and Herstory Portrait: Andrea Kusel and Sharon Thomas in conversation, 13 September 2012                                             

              https://womenslibrary.org.uk/2012/09/13/equals-and-herstory-portrait-andrea-kusel-and-sharon-thomas-in-conversation/

              Coll, M. Work of art is tribute to Rent Strike heroine, Southside Press and Govan Press, April 12, 2012, p10
2010      Athens Voice. Artists for Athen’s Pride, Feb 2010, p.58 https://www.athensvoice.gr/sites/default/files/issue/2010/01/26/av_287.pdf

              Rice, G. Preface: The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman, 2010 https://sharonthomas.co.uk/the-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-woman/

              Nevola, F. Sharon Thomas: Herstory in Context, 2010 https://sharonthomas.co.uk/sharon-thomas-herstory-in-context/
              Patrick, A. Telling the Herstories: a Perspective on Glasgow, Gender and the Marking of Women’ Histories, 2010

              https://sharonthomas.co.uk/telling-the-herstories-a-perspective-on-glasgow-gender-and-the-marking-of-womens-histories/
2009      Peacocke, H. Sharon Thomas at The North Wall, Oxford Times, Nov 2009 https://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/4733224.sharon-thomas-the-north-wall/
              Butler, S. Neo-Maternalism: Contemporary Artists’ Approach to Motherhood, The Brooklyn Rail, Jan 2009

              https://brooklynrail.org/2008/12/artseen/neo-maternalism-contemporary-artists-approach-to-motherhood
              Nevola, F. Sharon Thomas: Making of a Painter, Apotropaic, Museet for Religios Kunst, Denmark: Narayana Press, 2009

              https://sharonthomas.co.uk/sharon-thomas-the-making-of-a-painter/
              Nevola, F. In Conversation with Sharon Thomas: Painter, Thinker and Jester, Apotropaic, Museet for Religios Kunst, Denmark: Narayana Press, 2009

              https://sharonthomas.co.uk/in-conversation-with-sharon-thomas-painter-thinker-and-jester/

              Rathje, J. Preface to Apotropaic, Museet for Religios Kunst, Denmark: Narayana Press, 2009

              https://sharonthomas.co.uk/preface-to-apotropaic-by-gerd-rathje-2008/

              Flow Magazine, Issue 13, p.12 http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/455322/gsa_flowissue13_a4.pdf

2005      Overlap 1, 2005 www.exibart.com/profilo/eventiV2.asp?idelemento=25938

PUBLICATIONS

2021       Rural Rides (Foreword by Rice, G.), New Glasgow Society, Glasgow, UK                                                                                                                                    

2014       Patrick, A. (Ed.) 21 Revolutions, Glasgow: Glasgow Women’s Library and Freight Books, 2014

2011       Tolley, G. (Web Editor). Thisiscentralstation.com, Glasgow, 2011 https://issuu.com/centralstation/docs/centralstationbook

               GSA Prospectus, Director’s welcome, Glasgow, 2011  

               Nevola, F. & Rathje, G. (Ed.) Apotropaic, Museet for Religios Kunst, Denmark: Narayana Press, 2009  http://www.pulpnoir.dk/apotropaic/

2009       183rd Royal Scottish Academy: Annual Exhibition catalogue

2008       Frei, L. Cross Section: Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Visual Art. Glasgow: CCA, 2008

               https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22863924561

2007       Canziani, C. (Ed.) Ma Come Mai? Rome: 2007 http://1995-2015.undo.net/it/mostra/46786

2006       Fine Arts 2005-6, Benci, J. (Ed.) British School at Rome, Rome: Studio Lobodi Sid, 2006. ISBN 0904152502

               Annual Report 2005-6, British School at Rome, Rome: Studio Lobodi Sid. 2006

2001       Young Scottish Painters Exhibition, Renfrew, M. Phillips Auctioneers, Edinburgh, 2001

               Sum, Painting Department, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, 2001. ISBN 0901904929

COLLECTIONS

                Ferrari, New York, USA

                Danish Royal Collection, Denmark

               Museet for Religiøs Kunst, Lemvig, Denmark

               Glasgow Museums, UK

               Scottish Women’s Convention, Glasgow, UK

               Unite The Union, Glasgow, UK

COMMISSIONS 
2014        I Can Do It, collaboration with Martha Plimpton, Aubrey Plaza and Will Forte for comedy album 2776. Commission for Stephen Levinson, Joel Moss Levinson and Rob Kutner

                Los Angeles, USA (Onekid Oneworld). https://soundcloud.com/2776album/i-can-do-it2011       

                21 Revolutions, Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow, UK

SELECTED ARTIST TALKS

2019        Research Forum: Feminist Public Sculpture, with Griselda Pollock, Hazel Reeves and Rachel Reeves (MP), Leeds Arts University, UK

2018        Mary Barbour: Making of a Woman in Art and Politics (Science Week: Two Marys), Caledonia University, Glasgow, UK

2017        Mary Barbour: Making of an Artwork and its Legacy, House for an Art Lover, Glasgow, UK

2016        Mary Barbour: Making of an Artwork and its Legacy, Strathclyde University, Riverside Museum, Glasgow, UK

2015         Mary Barbour: Making of an Artwork and its Legacy, Arcadia University, Glasgow, UK

                 STUC, Women’s Council of The Isles, Glasgow, UK.  

2011        Ken Currie, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

2009        New York Academy of Art, New York, USA

2008        Fleeting Arcadias, Glasgow School of Art, UK

2005        British School at Rome, Italy

                East Harlem School at Exodus House, New York, USA

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2022         Unmute (Selected SSA Members Show), Dunoon Burgh Hall

                 Year of Stories (Selected RGI Members Show), Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art

                 Entheos, Curated by Sam Ainsley, Thyme James and Sharon Thomas

                 Marks Left Behind: NYAA Recollections, Connections and Impact of 9/11 Archive, New York Academy of Art, New York, USA

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL

2022         Acting President Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Art

                 Elected Council Member: Scottish Society of Artists

2014-18    Founder Member: Remember Mary Barbour Association