Sharon Core: A Dialogue Between Painting and Photography

Sharon Core (born 1965) is an American artist whose practice embodies a fascinating tension between the traditions of painting and photography, exploring how these mediums intersect to interrogate notions of representation, reproduction, and “realism.” Her journey began with formal training in painting at UGA, followed by a Master’s degree from Yale University School of Art where she earned the George Sakier Memorial Prize for Excellence in Photography. This dual grounding informs her distinctive approach—a meticulous process rooted in observation and informed by art history—resulting in images that simultaneously challenge and celebrate established conventions.

Early Influences & Artistic Formation

Core’s initial artistic explorations centered around capturing family photographs, establishing a foundational connection to visual storytelling from an early age. This practice quickly evolved into a fascination with the work of specific artists who captivated her imagination. Notably, she drew inspiration from Raphael Peale, whose still lifes—characterized by luminous lighting and subtle tonal gradations—served as models for her own compositions. Similarly, Core studied the genre of Dutch banquet portrait paintings of the seventeenth century, analyzing their formal structures and expressive gestures to understand how painters conveyed emotion and narrative through visual imagery. These influences would prove crucial in shaping her artistic vision throughout her career.

The Thiebauds Series: Translating Impressionism into Photography

Core’s breakthrough came with *Thiebauds* (2003–4), a series that reimagined the paintings of Wayne Thiebaud—renowned for his muted palettes and close-up depictions of everyday objects like cakes and candies—through the lens of photography. Recognizing Thiebaud's masterful use of impasto, Core painstakingly recreated his canvases in edible form, meticulously arranging ingredients to mirror the painterly textures. This ambitious undertaking wasn’t merely a stylistic exercise; it was an attempt to translate the essence of Impressionism into a medium traditionally associated with objective documentation. The resulting photographs—acquired by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum—demonstrated Core's ability to capture not only visual likeness but also the emotional resonance inherent in Thiebaud’s work.

Exploring Reproduction and Illusion: Oldenburgs & Beyond

Continuing her exploration of photographic illusionism, Core tackled Claes Oldenburg’s oversized sculptures—hamburgers, ice cream cones—creating monumental prints that replicated these artworks as two-dimensional images. This project underscored Core's conviction that photography could engage in a dialogue with sculpture, questioning assumptions about materiality and representation. Her subsequent series *Early American* revisited the still lifes of Raphaelle Peale, meticulously reconstructing her paintings using heirloom plants and antique porcelain—a deliberate effort to honor the original source material. Furthermore, she investigated the genre of Dutch banquet portrait paintings, analyzing their formal structures and expressive gestures to understand how painters conveyed emotion and narrative through visual imagery.

Recognition & Legacy

Sharon Core’s work has garnered considerable acclaim, earning her prestigious awards including the Shifting Foundation Fellowship and the Rema Hort Mann Foundation Emerging Artist Grant. Her monograph *Early American* was published by Radius Books in 2012, cementing her position as a leading figure in contemporary still life photography. She continues to exhibit internationally, showcasing her distinctive approach—a meticulous process rooted in observation and informed by art history—resulting in images that simultaneously challenge and celebrate established conventions. Her ongoing exploration of the relationship between painting and photography ensures that Sharon Core’s artistic legacy will endure for years to come.