About The Artist

Sheldon Greenberg, born in 1956 in Shreveport, Louisiana, transitioned from 30 years of creating highly realistic figurative works for advertising, design studios, books, magazines, and newspapers to a more intuitive artistic approach. His mixed media paintings now focus primarily on the environment and landscape surrounding him, employing dots and stripes to craft harmonious patterns within his compositions.

Greenberg’s work emphasizes contrasts, integrating elements such as scale, figure-ground relationships, texture versus smoothness, and simple versus complex areas. His layered process reveals the evolution of each piece, from initial marks to completion, balancing random and refined elements. This approach results in what he terms “abstracted realism,” achieved through a dynamic give-and-take of adding and subtracting until the composition finds equilibrium.

Greenberg’s artistic journey is underpinned by a robust educational background. He earned a BS from San Jose State University (1975–1980), studied at the Art Students League in New York (1985–1986), and completed an MFA at the California College of the Arts & Crafts in Oakland (1993–1994). These experiences shaped his technical foundation and informed his shift toward a more expressive, environmentally focused practice.

Through his distinctive use of pattern, contrast, and layered abstraction, Greenberg captures the essence of his surroundings, offering viewers a nuanced perspective on the interplay between nature and artistic process. His work continues to evolve, reflecting both his personal connection to the landscape and his commitment to exploring new creative dimensions.