About Me
“I was schooled at the Corcoran School of Art, part of the Museum. After exploring various styles and media on my own I began to regularly go to the Vermont Studio Center to get advice from the best of the best who helped me focus on intent and idea. It has always been nature. For many years my husband and I traveled regularly to Ireland and had a bolthole in County Kerry so that we could explore the wild west with leisure. My hiking [in Ireland] has given me access to incredible scenery and I rarely let it escape. The more dramatic the scene, the more likely I am to paint it.”
Gaal Shepherd has lived and worked in Vermont for 40 years. She has taken part in more than 100 shows, primarily in New England. Although best known for her pastel landscapes, she has worked in many other media. In addition, she has been a graphic designer, an art director for an award-winning magazine, an art gallery proprietor, and an actor.
Selected Bibliography
Apel, Susan, Hallowed Ground at Highland Center, (blog review) June 2018 “Artful”
Gow, Mary, “Hallowed Ground” (review), June 29, 2018, Times Argus/Rutland Herald
Awodey, Marc. “French Connection” (review), Seven Days, April 23, 2008 (reproduction)
Barker, Ruth Anne. “Sticks and Stones” (review), Art New England, October, 1994
Berkovitch, Ellen. “Out of the Woods” (review), Albuquerque Journal, May 8, 1997
Clarkson, Sarah May. “Exploring the Unexpected” (review), Manchester Journal, August 25, 1993.
Craig, William. “Pentangle begins Program for Children with Disabilities” (announcement), Valley News, October 16, 1997
Forest City Annual (exhibition catalogue), Danforth Gallery, Portland, ME, October, 1996.
“Forest City Annual exhibit brings art to wood and city.” Portland Press Herald, (editorial) October 12, 1996.
Galloway, Anne. “Studio Place Arts Exhibit Explores the Politics of Wood.” (review) Barre Montpelier Times Argus, April 15, 2005
Greenberg, Blue. “Contemporary artists offer nostalgic landscapes.” (review), Herald Sun, (Durham, NC), May 1, 1998.
Griffith, James. ‘Block’ buster at No. B.I.A.S.” (review), Bennington Banner, August 31, 1995.
Hansen, Alex. “Gaal Shepherd Draws on Art Network”, Valley News, 2007
Indyke, Dottie. “The Souls of trees grow into imagination”, (review) Pasatiempo, May 2, 1997.
“Looking Around” (review), Washington Review, October, 1980. (reproduction)
Maurice, Maggie. “Vermont Women’s Fund”,(commentary), Vermont Times, May 28, 1997.
McCloud, Kathleen. “Uncensored Imagination” (review), Pasatiempo, April 27, 1997.
McQuaid, Cate, “Joyride of different stripe; motley ‘Totems’” (review), Boston Globe, February 8, 1996
Multi Focus '95 (exhibition catalogue), SUNY Art Museum at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY
New American Paintings, Open Studios Press, Needham, MA, 1993.(reproductions)
PatternPatternPattern (exhibition catalogue), Galerie Mesa, Mesa, AZ, 1992
Richard, Paul. “Paper Pleasures” (review), Washington Post, September 18, 1980
Russell, Gloria, “Exhibition illuminates nature, mood in pastel”, (review), Springfield Sunday Republican, November 17, 1996.
Sculpture Fest 3 (exhibition catalogue), Vermont Council on the Arts, Woodstock, VT, 1993.
Shepherd, Gaal. “Scottish Scrapbook” (illustrated article) Valley News, August 1, 2004
Stitelman, Paul. “Abstract Forms” (review), Bennington Banner, August 19, 1993.
Sutherland, Amy. “Wood Works” (feature article with reproduction), Portland (Maine) Press Telegram, October 13, 1996.
Sutherland, Scott. “Object d’Wood” Casco Bay Weekly, October 10, 1996.(reproduction)
Szarkowski, John. Berkshire Art Association: 1992 Exhibition of Photography (exhibition catalogue), Berkshire Museum of Art, Pittsfield, MA, 1992 (reproduction)
22nd Area Exhibition: Works on Paper (exhibition catalog), Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1980 (reproduction)
Van Fleet, Janet. “Gaal Shepherd: La Muraille” (review) Art New England, June, 2008. (reproduction)
Wall Flowers (review), Burlington Free Press, February 18, 1993.(reproduction)
Warren, Betty. National '91 Small Works Exhibition (exhibition catalogue), Schoharie County Arts Council, Cobleskill, NY, 1991.
Awards & Honors
2001
Tranquil Vermont a finalist in Book of the Year 2000 competition of the Vermont Book Professionals Association
1996
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT (panel jury)
1993
Bald Eagle Art League's National Exhibition, Williamsport, PA (Daniel E. Greene)
1992
Stratton Arts Festival, Stratton Mountain, VT (panel jury)
Westmoreland County College, Youngwood, PA (panel jury)
Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ (panel jury)
1976
Award of Excellence, Virginia Beach Invitational
Exhibition, VA (panel jury)
Education
Stella Adler Theatre Studio, New York, NY 1968-1973
University of Tampa, Tampa FL 1974
Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC 1985-1987
Vermont Studio Center 1990-1995
Publications
2000
Tranquil Vermont, by Gaal Shepherd, Thistle Hill Publications, North Pomfret, VT
Art Exhibitions
One-Woman Exhibitions
2023
“Flatworld”, AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
“Pasture and Shore: The Calm Side of the Wild West of Ireland” Norman Williams Library, Woodstock, VT
“Looking Back at Nature”, Central VT Medical Ctr. Gallery
2018
“Hallowed Ground”, Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, VT (catalog and installation)
2013
Innovation Building (S.E.A.B.A.), Burlington, VT
Burlington International Airport (BCA), Burlington, VT
2012
Fletcher Allen Medical Center, Burlington, VT
2011
National Life, Montpelier, VT
2010
Burlington International Airport, Burlington, VT
2008
Cooler Gallery, White River Junction, VT
2007
Cooler Gallery, White River Junction, VT
2006
Cooler Gallery, White River Junction, VT
2004
Cooler Gallery, White River Junction, VT
2003
AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
Vermont Supreme Court, Montpelier, VT
2002
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
1998
Steinway Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
1997
No. B.I.A.S. Gallery, Bennington, VT
1996
Between the Muse Gallery, Rockland, ME
1995
Vermont Council on the Arts, Montpelier, VT
Clarke Galleries, Stowe, VT
1994
Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
1993
Beside Myself Gallery, Arlington, VT
Bromfield Gallery, Boston, MA
Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH
Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, VT
Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
1991-2002
11-Year Solo Show at Simon Pearce, The Mill, Quechee, VT
Public Commissions
2001
Site Specific Wood Sculpture, Sculptfest, Carving Studio, W. Rutland, VT
1996
Site Specific Wood Sculpture, Danforth Gallery, Portland, ME
Two-Person Exhibitions
2011
“Vermont Sculptors”, National Life Building, Montpelier, VT
2001
“Fred Lisaius and Gaal Shepherd”, The Munson Gallery, Chatham, MA
1998
“Gaal Shepherd and Marylou Swett”, Milton Academy, Milton, MA
1997
“Gaal Shepherd and Bert Yarborough”, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
“Open Air Sculpture Gallery” Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, VT
“Tilting at the Sun”AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
2022-2017
Numerous AVA and Artistree shows
2016
“Adirondack Nat’l Pastel Invitational” (award) Shirt Factory Gallery, Glens Falls, NY
“Local Color”, Artistree Gallery, Pomfret, VT
2014
“Unbound IV”, Artistree Gallery, Pomfret, VT
“Impromptu” Darkroom Gallery, Burlington, VT
Burlington City Arts (multiple shows) Burlington, VT
“Big Works: Garden Treasures”, Celebrations Gallery, Pomfret, CT
2013
“Botanical Drawing Invitational” Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK
2012
“Cut and Paste”, S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, VT
“Summer Exhibition”, AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
Vermont Pastel Society Invitational, Chaffee Gallery, Rutland, VT
“The Pastellists”, Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT
2011
“Art’s Alive”, Union Station, Burlington, VT
“Trees”, Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT
2010
“Vermont Artists”, Firehouse Gallery, Burlington, VT
2008
“Contemporary Fiber” Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT
2005
“Forever Forests,” Studio Place Arts, Barre VT
2002
“Biophilia”, New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM
“New Paintings”, Elements Gallery, Rockland, ME
2001
“Envisioned in a Pastoral Setting”, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT
1999
“The Log Show”, Maine Coast Artists, Rockport, ME
1998
Summer Exhibition, Beside Myself Gallery, Arlington, VT
1997
“Nature through the Artist’s Eye”, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Woodstock, VT
“Arms of the Earth”, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM
“Ladies of the Night”, Guadalupe Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM
“A Celebration of Trees”, State Capitol Rotunda, Santa Fe, NM
1996
“Fire & Ice”, Attleboro Museum, Attleboro, MA
“Pastel Windows”, Springfield Museum, Springfield, MA
“The Spirit and Essence of Vermont”, Helen Day Art Center, Stowe, VT
“Sculpturefest '96”, Vermont Council on the Arts, West Rutland, VT
“Milestones: The Carving Studio looks forward to the Millenium” AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
“PULSE POINTS Eastern Regional WCA 1996 Exhibition”, Ticknor Gallery, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
“Totem, contemporary interpretations of a primitive symbol”, Ashuah-Irving Gallery, Boston, MA
1995
“Multi-Focus '95” SUNY, Plattsburgh, NY
“Carving Studio Sculpture Show” No. B.I.A.S. Gallery, Bennington, VT
“Carving Studio Sculpture Show” Beside Myself Gallery, Arlington, VT
“Carving Studio Sculpture Show” Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
“1995 Members Show" Vermont State Craft Center at Frog Hollow, Manchester, VT
“Art's Alive 9th Annual Juried Festival of Fine Art, Burlington, VT
“1st Annual National Juried Pastel Competition 1995”, LaFond Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA
1994
“3D in '94”, Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, NY
“Summer Exhibition”, AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
“Patterns, Patterns, Patterns”, Vermont State Craft Center at Frog Hollow, Middlebury, VT
1993
“National Competition,” Bowery Gallery, New York, NY
“Sculptures in Stone & Fiber,” T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier, VT
“Sculpturefest 3,” Vermont Council on the Arts, Woodstock, VT
“Carving Studio Exhibition,” Castleton State College, Castleton, VT
“Shades of Pastel,” Maryland Pastel Society, Baltimore, MD
“Envisioned in a Pastoral Setting,” Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT
“Art in the Round Barn,” Green Mountain Cultural Association, Waitsfield, VT
“National Exhibition,” Bald Eagle Art League, Williamsport, PA
Stratton Arts Festival, Stratton Mountain, VT
1992
“Photography Exhibition” Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
“PatternPatternPattern,” Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ
“College Exhibition,” Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA
“Members Show,” AVA Gallery, Lebanon, NH
“Small Works,” Hays Gallery, Brattleboro, VT
“Art in the Round Barn,” Green Mountain Cultural Association, Waitsfield, VT
Stratton Arts Festival, Stratton Mountain, VT
1991
“Contemporary Art on Canvas,” Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD
“Shades of Pastel '91,” Maryland Pastel Society, Baltimore, MD
“National Exhibition,” Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY
“Group Exhibition,” Architect's Galleries, Providence, RI
“National Small Works Exhibition,” Schoharie County Arts Council,Cobleskill, NY
1989
“Franz Bader Juries,” Arlington Arts Center, Arlington, VA
1988
“150 Years of Photography,” Westport Arts Center, Westport, CT
1980
“Works on Paper,” Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
“New Faces,” Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC
Publication (book)
2018
Hallowed Ground, catalogue
2000
Tranquil Vermont, by Gaal Shepherd, Thistle Hill Publications, North Pomfret, VT