About me

I began making art before the age of 2 and can’t remember a conscious moment when I didn’t know that visual art was my language and my purpose.

Here is a link to a video I made in 2020 about my career, my 2019 solo exhibition at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, and the animation and special projects I made for that show.

Biography

I was born on May 31st, 1950, and have lived my whole life in Nebraska except for a summer in San Francisco and two and half years in New York City. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in printmaking and graphic design, I worked as a wooden toy maker, an animator, a graphic designer, and for more than twenty years, a freelance illustrator. Then I became a doll artist. Being self-employed allowed me to also be a stay-at-home mother for my two children.

Studio

I work at home. See a short video tour of my studio.

Contact

artist@shelleythornton.com

1600 South 22nd Street
Lincoln, NE 68502 USA

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