Sharon Irla facts for kids
Sharon Irla (born 1957) is a talented artist from the Cherokee people. She is officially part of the Cherokee Nation. Sharon taught herself how to create art. She started showing her work in art competitions in 2003. Her art includes paintings, large wall murals, graphic designs, and photos. She also makes custom picture frames. Many of her works feature designs from the Southeastern Woodlands and Mississippian cultures. Most of her award-winning art is oil paintings of Cherokee women. These paintings show women in both modern and historical settings.
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Art Themes: Strong Native American Women
Sharon Irla often paints portraits of Native American women. She shows them in both today's world and from the past. Her main goal is to highlight how complex and important Native American women are. She believes there aren't enough artworks showing their stories.
Sharon says, "Throughout history, Native American women have been shown in art much less than Native American men. Yet, women played just as big a role." She gives an example: "The Cherokee people used to have a Council of Women. Some Cherokee women, like Nanyehi (Nancy Ward), became known as 'Beloved Woman' or 'War Woman'. These women made very important decisions for their tribe. But we don't find paintings of them." Sharon wants to change that with her art.
Art Technique: Inspired by Old Masters
Sharon Irla is a self-taught artist. This means she learned to paint on her own. She says that the famous artist Caravaggio greatly influenced her style. She describes her method as "combining dramatic lighting and Old Masters technique." This means she uses strong light and shadow. She also uses painting methods from artists who lived long ago.
Working with the Community
Sharon Irla helped start the Southeastern Indian Artists Association. This group used to be called the Cherokee Artists Association. Its goal is to promote art from the Southeastern Woodlands. It also works to protect the rights of Native American artists.
She also helped other artists create "The Passage." This is an outdoor art display in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It's a special place because many Cherokee people passed through Ross Landing on their sad journey to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). This journey is known as the Trail of Tears.
Awards and Recognition
Sharon Irla first entered an art competition in 2003. Her oil painting, "She Was a Warrior," won an Honorable Mention. This was at the Cherokee Homecoming Art Show in Park Hill, Oklahoma. Since then, Sharon has won many awards in various Native American art shows. She has received "Best of Show" awards multiple times. She has also won "Best of Category" for her paintings. Other awards include "Chief's Choice" and "Speaker of the Council Award." Her art has been recognized at shows like the Cherokee Art Market and the Trail of Tears Art Show. She has also won awards at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum and the Southeastern Art Show.
