Sharon Kopriva


Sharon Kopriva is an American painter and sculptor who lives and works in Houston, Texas and Hope, Idaho. Kopriva's art is influenced by her Catholic primary school education, as well as exposure to Peruvian and Australian cultures.

Biography

Sharon Kopriva was raised in Houston. She is the middle child of three born to Lowell and Rosalie Ortman. Kopriva earned a bachelor's degree in art education from the University of Houston in 1970. She taught art for 10 years in the Houston Independent School District before returning to the University of Houston to earn a master's degree in painting in 1981. The Texas Commission on the Arts named Kopriva State Artist of the Year in 2005 for her three-dimensional visual artwork.
Her teachers include New York painter John Alexander and sculptor James Surls. Her friendship with artists Edward Kienholz and Nancy Reddin Kienholz has also impacted Kopriva’s work:

Work

Best known for her sculptures of human figures and animals. Kopriva’s paintings have been shaped by the mountain forests of Idaho, where she spends her summers.
In late 2015, Kopriva returned her focus to figurative sculpture and began a series out of manila rope pieces called Tubors.

Permanent public collections

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