About Sherry
Navigating the challenging terrain of Imaginative Pop Realism, Sherry Wolf has garnered both a devoted following and critical acclaim for her audacious endeavors in painting, film, and fashion design. Her figure paintings are celebrated for their compelling frankness, capturing the essence of her subjects with stark honesty. Wolf’s unique perspective on contemporary consumer culture is articulated through a mesmerizing hyper-realistic technique, which deftly incorporates elements from an earlier generation of Pop Art. By intertwining references to popular culture with the visual idioms of today, she crafts a style that is not only universally recognizable but also profoundly reflective of modern societal narratives.
Early Life
Sherry Wolf, born in Baltimore, Maryland, has charted an illustrious path through the art world. Graduating magna cum laude in art history from the University of Maryland, she swiftly ascended to prominence as the resident artist at NBC Washington, renowned for her adept VIP portraits. Her formidable artistic talents earned her a prestigious commission from the White House during the Nixon administration to create paintings commemorating Tricia Nixon Cox’s wedding. Wolf’s relocation to Manhattan in the early 1970s marked a decisive turn towards fine art, setting the stage for a career that would intertwine significant historical events with her personal artistic evolution.
“Visionary Genius.”
- ABC New York Nightly News
Interview
The Art World
In 1973, Sherry Wolf embarked on a transformative journey to New York to immerse herself fully in the realm of fine art. Here, she began to craft large-scale photorealistic paintings that vividly captured the essence and aura of contemporary New York high society. By 1979, Wolf articulated that her work was not merely aesthetic but served as pointed social commentary and criticism. A prime example is “Label Lady,” a self-portrait where Wolf portrays herself as a fashion victim, adorned in head-to-toe designer wear, reflecting on the consumerist culture. This poignant piece found its place in the Museum of the City of New York as a lithograph. In a landmark event in 1983, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery acquired another of Wolf’s self-portraits, depicting her in her studio. This acquisition marked the gallery’s first foray into contemporary American realist painting, underscoring Wolf’s significant role in shaping the artistic narrative of the era.
"Wolf's work depicts the contemporary vernacular with acute specificity and detail; it resonates with a social and historical particularity that only comes from a careful study of the environment."
- Robert Hughes, Acclaimed Art critic
Fashion
As a burgeoning artist in New York, Sherry Wolf swiftly became the bicoastal darling of the art and fashion worlds. She divided her time between the electrifying Studio 54 scene in New York City and Hollywood, where she mingled with a coterie of creative industry elites. Sherry’s multifaceted talents also propelled her into the fashion realm, where she crafted an exceptional line of handbags and jewelry. Her luxury handbags rapidly gained traction, gracing the shelves of prestigious retailers like Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom, as well as numerous boutiques nationwide. These bags became a staple among young Hollywood, coveted by celebrities who were frequently seen sporting her distinctive designs at red carpet events.
Further solidifying her influence in the fashion industry, Sherry launched a critically acclaimed 18-karat gold jewelry collection at Neiman Marcus, and later expanded her repertoire to include silver jewelry featured on QVC and the Home Shopping Network. Drawing from classical themes in painting, architecture, and mosaics, Wolf also debuted a Men’s Neckwear collection. Her designs translated into immensely wearable ties, one of which was notably worn by President Bill Clinton, cementing her status in the pantheon of American design.