LaShonda Davis is a visual artist who specializes in the creation of large-scale artwork. She creates a range of large-scale work including murals, sidewalk art, canvas, and public art, in a style that fuses vibrant color with themes of identity and surrealistic imagination. As a professional artist, Davis collaborates with property managers, interior designers, business owners, and curators to produce site-specific and visually impactful artwork.
Much of her signature painting style features a textural, three-dimensional layer that invites the viewer into a tactile experience of her paintings. This is especially true of her landscape paintings, which features layers of foliage applied with a heavy-body, thickened paint technique. She aims to not only experience art not only with the sense of vision, but the sense of touch as well.
From 2014 to 2016, Davis operated Art Factory Collective, a co-op gallery and art collective based in Rochester, New York. The collective participated in events both locally and nationally to support artistic causes. Many of the group’s main activities included live painting, mural painting, art workshops, and group exhibitions.
In addition to producing artwork, Davis has also taught Studio Art for adult learners in the City of Rochester. Also as an active public speaker, she connects with diverse audiences about navigating the art world, and offers valuable insight to help creative professionals sustain a career in the arts. Venues where she has spoken include the Rochester Rundell Public Library, World School of Inquiry, and the Mental Health Association. Other creative endeavors include crochet, calligraphy, jewelry design, music composition, and creative writing.
EDUCATION
State University of New York College at Brockport, B.A. 2012
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
La Sorbonne University
Paris, France. Semester Abroad, January 2005
French Surrealist Art & Literature Immersion
La Escuela de Las Idiomas
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 2009
Spanish Art & Language Immersion
EXHIBITION HISTORY
See full Exhibition History here.
VOLUNTEER HISTORY
PURPLE PIG ART FESTIVAL, Outdoor Gallery Assistant
Naples, NY 2015
BONNAROO ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL, Screen Printing Assistant
Manchester, TN 2015
ALL GOOD ART & MUSIC FESTIVAL, Mural Assistant
West Virginia, 2017
GATHERING OF THE VIBES ARTS FESTIVAL
Bridgeport, CT 2018
ROCHESTER CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
Rochester, NY 2014
GRASSROOTS ART FESTIVAL
Trumansburg, NY 2018
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
SHON DAVIS ART & DESIGN, Independent Professional Artist. 2010 – Present
CREATIVE WELLNESS COALITION: MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, Art Instructor. 2014 – 2017
STRONG MUSEUM OF NATIONAL PLAY, Gallery Assistant. 2003 – 2006
WEB PRESENCE
FACEBOOK
LaShonda Davis
INSTAGRAM
@lashonda.studio
TWITTER
@lashonda_studio
artist & creative director 