Artist Lecturer Says Spirituality is her Core

Angelo State University’s first Henry Edwards Distinguished Lectureship in Art featured speaker Sharon Booma, an acclaimed contemporary painter. Booma’s presentation, titled Beyond the Obvious, took place Monday afternoon. 

"Energetic, bold, colorful, masterful...," was how Randy Hall, a professor of art at Angelo State University, described Booma's work.

Booma went to school at the College of New Rochelle in New York and the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts. Her work has been displayed through out the U.S. as well as internationally. Booma has had a studio in Boston, Chicago, Omaha and currently resides outside of Jacksonville, Fla. where she also has a studio.

“Some of my paintings minimize the idea of a bodily mass and evolve into more spiritual quality and less physical form,” Booma said of her art.

In being completely open about her journey as an artist Booma decided to express how her spirituality is the core of all she does.

“God is at the center of everything that I do and how I express who I am,” Booma said. 

She explained how this may vary from artist to artist, however each artist should have some greater depth to their work.

“You have to have a moral force behind your work or else it is only decorative,” she said.

Booma says that she doesn’t want to simply portray what she sees, but rather transform an experience within her art.“As the world becomes dominated by things technological the need remains for human expression,” Booma, the first lecturer in a new series of art lectures said.

According to ASU, the Henry Edwards Distinguished Lectureship in Art is an extension of the Edwards Family Trust, which was established in 1992 by Joseph Henry Edwards and Winona Edwards of San Angelo. The fund has been used to support the art program in ASU’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts through scholarships for visual art students and an artist residency program.

The exhibition of Booma’s work will be on display through Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Gallery 193 in the Carr Education-Fine Arts Building, 2602 Dena Drive. After being displayed at Angelo State, Booma’s art will be shipped to Amsterdam for her next gallery exhibit.