Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shawn Marshall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shawn , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Not all of the risks I’ve taken have had positive outcomes, but some of the biggest have led to the life-changing events of my life. After earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture and working in the field for nearly 20 years, I made the bold decision to leave architecture altogether and return to school once more, this time to become a teacher.

That decision was shaped by several events that converged in 2008. I was laid off from the architecture firm where I worked due to the sharp downturn in construction during the global recession. That same year, I went through a divorce, which forced me to sell my home and move with my son into a small apartment. For years, I had quietly considered becoming a teacher so that I could nurture my love of education, spend more time with my son, and create more space for my art practice. Those difficult circumstances became the catalyst that finally pushed me to take the leap, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Kentucky-based mixed media artist with a background in architecture and design. I earned a Master of Architecture with a Minor in Fine Art from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky. I’m also a public school visual arts educator who earned Master of Art in Teaching from Bellarmine University.

As an artist, I have built a practice that bridges disciplines, combining the rigor of design with the openness of artmaking. I bring an architect’s eye for space and structure to my compositions, while embracing the imperfections, fragments, and tactile histories and meanings of existing upcycled materials. My works invite viewers to pause and reflect on their own connections to these narratives, creating not just objects for decoration but spaces of inquiry and resonance.

I feel proud and honored that my work has garnered both national and international recognition, with features in Artistic Hub Magainze, Curatory Art Magazine, Visionary Art Magazine, Suboart Magazine, Contemporary Collage Magazine, and now with Canvas Rebel. In the summer of 2024, I completed a residency with the Jen Tough Gallery in Santa Fe, which culminated in a solo exhibition in November of 2024. I have also been fortunate enough to receive multiple Artist Enrichment Grants from the Great Meadows Foundation, with the most recent supporting my travels to Venice, Italy for the 2024 Biennale. And I am thrilled for the upcoming opportunity to show in the 2026 LA Art Show with the Jen Tough Gallery.

What sets my work apart could be its layered approach, both visually and conceptually. I value depth, tension, and contrast. My practice also reflects my life philosophy of taking risks, changing approaches, pushing boundaries, and continually growing. I want people to know that my work is not simply about what you see on the surface but about what lies beneath, about the stories that shape us, and about creating works that evolve in meaning and impact over time. Most recently I am exploring the role of women within spaces traditionally shaped by men; religious, institutional, and architectural. Sometimes I’m quietly challenging power structures; other times, I’m simply existing within them. By placing feminine figures in these spaces, I explore how presence alone can shift the atmosphere and how resilience, stillness, or mere visibility can change the narrative.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My reputation has been built on hard work and consistency – showing up to do the work day after day. I’ve also learned to see rejection not as a personal setback, but as part of the process of growth. Each setback is fuel to refine my practice and push forward.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

It’s important for non-creatives to recognize that creatives are driven by an insatiable curiosity about how things work and an instinct for problem-solving. These qualities make us restless with the status quo and continually push us to discover fresh, inspiring ways of approaching challenges. Curiosity and problem-solving aren’t just artistic traits, they’re universally valuable skills that strengthen every field of study and every business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shawnmarshallart.com
• Instagram: @shawn_marshall_art
• Facebook: Shawn Marshall Art
• Linkedin: Shawn Marshall