Sharon Havelka: Familial Objects

On view March 5th through April 18th

ShapeShifter is thrilled to host the multimedia textile sculpture of Sharon Havelka. Havelka is a Chinese American artist whose work explores the intersections of heritage, memory, and material through her textile-based sculptures. She earned her BFA from the Memphis College of Art and has exhibited widely across the United States. Her pieces are part of permanent collections, including the City of Memphis Moveable Collection and the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum. 

Havelka states, “As a Southern artist, I am deeply influenced by my upbringing as a third-generation Chinese-American, whose family settled in Memphis after immigrating to the Mississippi Delta in the 1940s. I intentionally work with secondhand material gifted by friends and family. These worn materials, imbued with personal history and everyday utility, embody different generational identities while reflecting how societal roles and relationships shift over time.”

Havelka’s work engages an intensive process of overstuffed quilting, rooted in the tradition of trapunto. After each piece is quilted, it is cut open from the back, densely filled with clothing scraps, then hand-stitch closed, transforming the surface with richly textured relief. This process of reuse keeps sustainability at the core of her practice, while reinforcing the conceptual and material integrity of the work.  Visit https://www.sharonhavelka.com/ to learn more.

ShapeShifter Art School & Gallery is located at 680 Oakleaf Office Lane, Memphis, TN 38117.

Our gallery hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12pm - 5pm and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment.