Complete Biography

Sharon Pitts
paintergirl@comcast.net

973 919 0714

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sharon Pitts holds a B.A. in Plastic and Graphic Arts from The University of Illinois – Chicago and has studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Barnes Foundation and Montclair State University. She is listed in “Who’s Who in American Art”.  She is an avid reader and traveler and hosts watercolor workshops in France, Italy and Croatia. She maintains studios in Montclair, New Jersey and in East Hampton, New York.  She has taught watercolor for 30 years at various prestigious institutions.

SELECTED GALLERIES AND SOLO SHOWS

2024             State of the Art 2024, Studio Montclair, Inc.  Leach Gallery 

2024             Watercolor and Photography in Harmony, Stover’s Mill Gallery, Erwinna, PA

2023            “Transactions with Beauty”, Hillside Square Gallery, Montclair, NJ

2022             Allied Artists of America, 109th Annual Exhibition

2021            “Inspired by an Object”, Studio Montclair, Inc.

2018            Art on Paper, Pier 36, New York, NY

2017            The Banner Project, “An Affair of the Art”, Studio Montclair, Inc.

2017            BrassWorks Gallery, “Sight Specific”, Montclair, NJ

2016          The Gallery at Berkshire Hathaway, Livingston, NJ

2015          Atrium Art Gallery, Morristown, NJ

2014          Calvary Episcopal Church, Summit, NJ – solo show

2013         “Full Circle”, Studio Montclair, Inc.  Montclair, NJ

2013           Faculty Show, Montclair Art Museum

2013          PechaKucha at Montclair Art Museum

2011           Van Vleck House and Gardens, Montclair, NJ

2009         The Atrium Gallery, Morristown, NJ

2009        Faculty Show, Montclair Art Museum

2008       “Fascination with Nature”, Flyway Gallery, New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (SOLO EXHIBITION)

2007       “Art Connections 4”, George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University

2007        Distinctive Palettes, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ

2006       “Visions in Watercolor”, Dupre Gallery, Montclair, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)

2005      “Evolving Themes”, Livingston Art Association, Livingston, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)

2003      Unitarian Church, Summit, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Blue Sky Café Ballroom, Montclair, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)

2002      “Natural Forms”, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Featured Artist, G.J. Cloninger, East Hanover, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)
“From Nature to Neon”, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ (SOLO EXHIBITION)

2001      “Kinetic Pop”, Fredrick Clement Gallery, Montclair, N.J. (TWO-ARTIST EXHIBITION)

2000      “Fabulous With a Touch of Funk”, Berlex Laboratories, Montville, N.J. (SOLO EXHIBITION)

1999      “Mid-Winter Bloom”, Newark Academy Gallery, Livingston, N.J. (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Jewel Spiegel Gallery, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

1998      Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, N.Y. (SOLO EXHIBITION)

1995      Broadfoot and Broadfoot, Boonton, N.J.

1994      Chasen Portfolio, Springfield, N.J.

1993      Essex Fine Arts, Montclair, N.J.
Art Insights, New York, N.Y.

1991      Windsors Gallery, Dania, Fl.

1990      Korby Gallery, Cedar Grove, N.J.

1989      Gallery at 211, Ossining, N.J.

1987      Atwood Gallery, New York, N.Y. (SOLO EXHIBITION)

1979      Gallery at 401, Magnolia, N.J.
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pa.
Art and More, Philadelphia, Pa., (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Abington Art Center, Abington, Pa. (3-artist exhibition)

1977      Kammer Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa. (SOLO EXHIBITION)

1976      Widener University Museum of Art, Widener College (SOLO EXHIBITION)

1976      Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pa., (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Vincent Kling Partnership, Philadelphia, Pa., (SOLO EXHIBITION)
Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

GROUP EXHIBITS

2015          Immagini: Images of Italy  Site/109 Gallery, New York, NY

2013       “A Flavor of Italy”, 25 CPW/The Art Gallery, New York, NY

2013        “Full Circle”, Studio Montclair, Inc., Montclair, NJ

2013       “Examining Process”, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ

2012      Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Gallery, Somerville, NJ

2012      State of the Art 2012, Studio Montclair, Academy Square Gallery

2012      “Art Connections 8”, George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University

2012      National Association of Women Artists, New York, N.Y

2011      Faculty Show, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ

2010      Genesis and Evolution, Academy Square, Montclair, NJ

2010      Art on Paper, Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ

2010      Ocean Reef Art League, Key Largo, Florida

2008      “The Flower Show”, BOI’S Gallery of New Hope, New Hope, PA

2007      Allied Artists of America Invitational, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT

2007      Allied Artists of America, 94th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY

2006      Allied Artists of America, 93rd Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY

2005      Allied Artists of America, 92st Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY

2005      Butler 69th Midyear, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio

2005      “ArtWorks”, Park Avenue at Morris County, Florham Park, NJ
“Art Blooms”, Louisa Melrose Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ

2004      Art Market 2004, Montclair State University
Yard School of Art, Montclair Art Museum Faculty Show, Montclair, NJ

2003      “Black and White”, Women Artists of Montclair, Nandi Gallery, Montclair, NJ

2004      Allied Artists of America, 91th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
“Connections”, Kunstlerbund, Graz, Austria
5th Annual Juried Art Show, Louisa Melrose Gallery, Frenchtown, NJ (Best in Show)
“Heartstrings”, Studio Montclair, Inc. at The Clifton Arts Center, Clifton, NJ

2003-05       Traveling exhibition:
J. Wayne Stark Gallery, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, Neenah, WI
Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville, VA
The UVSC Woodbury Gallery, Orem, UT
Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI

2002      Allied Artists of America, 89th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, NY
“Hot Flashes”, Women Artists of Montclair, Westminster Art Gallery, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ
“In America”, Gallery of the Sheraton Edison Hotel at Raritan Center N.J.

2001      “Salon 2001”, Fredrick Clement Gallery, Montclair, NJ
Allied Artists of America, Inc. 88th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, N.Y.
The Montclair Art Museum Yard School of Art Faculty Show at Gallery 214
Studio Montclair, Inc., 4th Annual Juried Exhibition, Montclair, N.J.
Community Arts Association, 7th National Open Exhibitions, Ridgewood, N.J.
The Allied Artists of America Member’s Exhibition at the Butler                Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio

2000      Allied Artists of America, Inc. 87th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, N.Y.
“Parallel Visions”, Berlex Laboratories, Montville, N.J.
“The Presby Art Show 2000”, Presby Iris Gardens, Montclair, N.J.
“Salon 2000”, Fredrick Clement Gallery, Montclair N.J.
“Ancestors, Revealing Our Tracks”, Women Artists of Montclair, Serengeti Plains, Montclair, NJ
“It’s About Time”, The Gallery at Newark Academy, Livingston, N.J.

1999      Allied Artists of America, Inc., 86th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York, N.Y.
Studio Montclair, 2nd Annual Exhibition, Colonnades Gallery, Montclair, N.J.
41st Annual Westfield Hadassah Fine Art & Crafts Show, Westfield, NJ
“Raw/Refined”, Women Artists of Montclair, Fredrick Clement Gallery, Montclair, N.J.

1998      Allied Artists of America, Inc. 85th Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, NYC.
Studio Montclair, 1st Annual Juried Exhibition, Montclair, N.J.
Community Arts Association, CAA 4th National Open Exhibition, Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood, NJ
“Dark”, City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, N.J.
“Seeing Red”, Women Artists of Montclair, Nabisco Gallery, East Hanover, N.J.

1997      Allied Artists of America, Inc. 84th Annual Exhibition, New York, N.Y.
“Reconnection-Tapping into the Life Force of Nature through Art”, Essex Fine Arts Gallery, Montclair, NJ
16th Annual Metro Show, Juried Small Works, City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, N.J.
Invitational Donation, Montclair Art Museum, “Art in Bloom”
“The Montclair Art Colony, Past and Present”, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, N.J.
“The Source”, Women Artists of Montclair (WAM), Westminster Gallery, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ

1996      “The Decade Show”, Women Artists of Montclair (WAM), Westminster Gallery, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ

1995      Invitational Donation, Montclair Art Museum, “Art in Bloom”, Montclair, N.J.
Nominee, Montclair Arts and Cultural Alliance, Outstanding Achievement in the Arts”
“Auras” WAM, Unitarian Church, Montclair, N.J.
“Focus on Art”, National Council of Jewish Women, JCC, Livingston, N.J.

1994      “The Bed”, WAM, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

1993      “Emergence-After the Garden”, WAM, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

1992      “More or Less, Less or More”, WAM, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.

1990      Art in the Park, Montclair, N.J. (1st Prize Watercolor)
“Dreamscapes/Intimate Rituals”, City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, N.J.

1989      “Intimate Rituals, Westminster Gallery, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, N.J.
“Women in Art”, Tobia Kraa Gallery, Montclair, N.J.
YMHA, Wayne, N.J., (two-artist show)

1988      “The Art Show”, Montclair, N.J. (1st Prize Watercolor)

1988-96      Art Expo, Jacob Javits Center, New York, N.Y.

1980      “Flora”, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, Pa.
“Holiday Exhibition”, Gloucester County College, N.J.

1979      Third Street Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

1978      Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

1977      “Invitational Small Paintings”, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pa.
“37th Annual Juried Exhibition”, Woodmere Art Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

1976      National Academy Galleries, New York, N.Y.
“176 Innovations”, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.
Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa.

1975-79      Rittenhouse Square Art Annual, Philadelphia, Pa.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2001-present      Watercolor instructor, Yard School of Art, Montclair Art Museum

2011      Art Journal, New York Open Center, New York, NY

2007      Jumpstarting your Creativity, The Adult School of Montclair
Watercolor instructor, Visual Arts Center, Summit, NJ
Watercolor instructor, Jersey Central Art Studios, Cranford, NJ

1995-2005      Watercolor instructor, Montclair Adult School

2003      Adjunct staff, Essex County College, Newark, NJ

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

2016         Watercolor Workshop in Paris

2015         Watercolor Workshop in Tuscany

2014       Watercolor Journal in Tuscany, Renewal II

2012      Residency at the Gustav Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

2012      Watercolor Journal In Tuscany, Renewal I

2011        Watercolor Journal in Tuscany

2008      Provence, France
2007      Les Pradailles, Fiac, France

Calvert Artists’ Guild, Prince Frederick, Maryland
Watercolor demonstration, Rutherford Art Center, Rutherford, NJ
Watercolor workshop, Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA
Watercolor demonstration, Bloomfield Art League, NJ
Watercolor demonstration, Clifton Art Association, Clifton, NJ

2006      Les Pradailles, Fiac, France
Morris County Art Association, Morristown, NJ
Gold Coast Watercolor Society, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2005      Cloudcroft Art Workshops, Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Watercolor demonstration, Woman’s Club of Upper Montclair, Montclair, NJ
Watercolor demonstration, Livingston Art Association, Livingston, NJ

2001-3    Bloomfield Art League, Bloomfield, NJ

2003      Roxbury Art Association, Roxbury, NJ

2002      Prince Edward Island, Canada

JUROR

West Essex Art Association
Art Association of Rutherford
National Society of Arts & Letters, 2007
Millburn-Short Hills Art Center, 2005
Bloomfield Art League, 1999, 2003
May In Montclair
Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Children’s Art Show
Paint the Town!, Montclair, NJ, 1998

COLLECTIONS

Widener University Museum of Art
Commission for CBS, Inc.
Colgate-Palmolive Corporation
Gennet, Kallmann, Antin and Robinson
Due Process Stables Golf Course
Pfizer, Inc.
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
Senior Care and Activities Center, Montclair, NJ

Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Private Collections

PUBLICATIONS

Downtown Cranford Magazine, October 2007
Downtown Cranford Magazine, “Artist Loves Teaching”, Mary Ann Matlock, May 2007
Who’s Who in American Art, 2005-06 Edition, 2007-2008 Edition
Akron Beacon Journal, July 17, 2005, “Realism on display at Butler show”, Dorothy Shinn, Art and Architecture Critic
Nouveau, January, 2005, “Louise Melrose Gallery Presents Art Blooms”, Teri Murphy
New York Times, September 14, 1997, “Three Rare Invitations to the Inner Sanctum”, On the Towns Section, William Zimmer
The Star-Ledger, November 27, l997, “Watercolorist showcases blooming creations”, Sheryl Weinstein

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

Who’s Who in American Art
President, PS Art Tours, 2006-2009
Allied Artists of America, Director of Exhibitions 1995-2000, Director of Watercolor 2000-2010
Studio Montclair, Inc.
Artists’ Fellowship
Women Artists of Montclair

National Watercolor Society

American Watercolor Society

Outdoor Painters Society