SHELBY WREN
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Hello, my name is Shelby Wren and I am an artist specializing in painting, drawing and ceramics. I have loved creating since I was a young and was thrilled to learn that through an education in art, I could push my skills and knowledge to become a "career creator."
 
Middle school started my training in painting and drawing, which was my focus through high school and eventually to Valencia College where, in 2011, I earned my associate's degree in fine arts. After a short break, I pursued my interest in all things ancient and earned a bachelor’s in art history in May of 2019 from the University of Central Florida (UCF).
 
In 2017, a painting of mine titled "Reflections" was selected to be featured in the UCF Gallery, in a show called "Resilience: Remembering PULSE." I have participated in the 2021 Dia de los Muertos show at CityArts Factory in downtown Orlando with three clay skulls for the event.
 
During my time at UCF, I started working with a new medium. Clay was a required course in high school and college, but it didn’t really call to me until I started pinching pots. Pinched clay pots were some of the first forms of art created right alongside cave painting. The pinched form has been a dominant interest of mine and understanding how the organic outcome of a piece can be both dramatic and subtle intrigues me. When I work in clay, anything seems possible, which has kept my interest in clay as an art form ... from creating small delicate pieces to challenging myself to make bigger forms and exploring added elements to those forms. I love ceramics and enjoy exploring the different challenges that clay can present to an artist.
 
Thanks primarily to my work in clay, I was selected as an Emerging Artist for the Winter Springs ArtoberFest in both 2016 and 2017. I am also sharing my love of painting, drawing and clay as an instructor of children’s classes at two local art studios and have been leading handbuilding clay workshops for adults. Sharing my love for art is how I try to give back for all the things art has shared with me.
 
Follow Shelby on Instagram:
@s_wren