Sharp is a settler born in Lacombe Alberta on Treaty 6 lands, the traditional and ancestral territory of the peoples of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux, as well as the Métis. Sharp now resides on the unceded and unsurrendered territories of the Anishinābe Aki, in the city known as Odawa/Ottawa. After his studies of painting and design at York University in Toronto, Daniel Sharp worked at the artist-run gallery Artspace in Peterborough Ontario (1980-82) where he learned about art gallery administration, art handling, curating and exhibition production. He was the Artistic Director at the Ottawa artist-run centre Gallery 101 (1989-91). From 1991 until 2017 he was program officer, then manager, collection manager and curator for Foreign Affairs/Global Affairs government art collection for embassies and diplomatic missions abroad. Since 2017 Sharp has operated his art practice with the company name Global Studio. In addition to his personal art practice, Sharp is currently the project team administrator for Unsettled Ground Artists Inc., commissioned to provide public artworks for five stations in the Phase 2 of the Ottawa light rail train system.

Statement

I am a river.
My work is an exploration of colour and forms, geometric and lyrical abstraction, always with a strong interest in drawing.
My paintings are about the sensibilities of my regular life, with its ordinary and remarkable aspects. I think of my paintings as mediations on daily experience, symbolic associations, graphic style, reflecting the inspiration of specific periods of art history. My artworks often refer to contemporary and historical abstract painting practices in a manner that is homage, as well a a critique and sometimes a subversion.

Education

York University Toronto, BFA 1979
Graduate Studies in art and cultural theory, Canadian Studies, Carleton University (1985-89)

Exhibition summary

Paintings have been exhibited in local and regional exhibitions. In Ottawa, solo and group exhibitions over forty years have included, SAW Gallery, Gallery 101, Ottawa School of Art, Carl Davis Gallery, CUBE Gallery, Collected Works Bookstore, West End Studio Tours, Karsh-Masson Gallery, Ottawa City Hall, Studio Sixty Six Contemporary Art Gallery and independent artist exhibitions. Sharp has maintained a studio at the EBA building since 2006.