Shen Hallford

Bio

Bio :ShenShen210: is best known for her soulful portraits over the course of almost four decades. As a vanguard graffiti artist, Shen continually elevates her signature style, bringing the street art medium to galleries, mural projects in public spaces, and private commissions across the globe. Her unique aerosol art captures the heart and spirit of her subjects in ways that engage, move, and inspire. Her mission is to paint love across the world, bringing hope and joy into the hearts of many, one painting at a time. Now living in Spring, Texas with her husband and two of their eight children, the artist exhibits her work in galleries, public spaces, and museum exhibitions across the country. Artist's Statement I remain as passionate about graffiti art as when I was a teen spray-painting under Northern California bridges in the 1980s. On brisk nights, I learned to paint by value rather than color, eagerly anticipating viewing my work at daybreak if my piece wasn’t painted over by a rival. Painting allows me an ongoing discovery of myself and my relationship with the imagery I create. I empathize and seek to identify with the subject. I search for the story, the struggles, the conflicts, the breakthroughs and the victories. I seek to express the best in even the worst of us and discover what can be learned, what can be overcome. Ultimately, I want to discover ways of creating the most powerful impact. Love fascinates me. I explore its many facets, incorporating movement through elements of vibrant, bold, arrestive pop imagery. I share love through my art, receiving so much more of it myself. I live my dream of painting love across the world, one painting at a time. My process involves deep layering of color, textures, imagery, typography, and often natural elements. I may select a painting surface, like wood, for a subject and allow elements of that surface to show through. I connect with the deep, raw life experiences of my subject as I use knives to scratch into the surface of each portrait, creating depth. This symbolizes the many layers of the human condition and the experiences that influence who we are and who we are becoming. My airbrush enables me to stay connected to my aerosol roots. I like to use unrelated elements, manipulating them into conformity. As each piece unfolds, I experience a sense of actualization, order, and inner harmony.