Sharon Foster, the artist behind Alicia Dean Artworks, is a British artist whose work celebrates African Caribbean heritage through intricate and evocative visuals.

 

In recent years, her contributions to the John Blanke Project have gained significant recognition, with her artwork featured in exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery and National Museums Liverpool.

 

The John Blanke Project is an initiative celebrating John Blanke, a Black trumpeter at the Tudor court of Henry VIII and Sharon's contributions to this project are set to be immortalized in the forthcoming book "Who is John Blanke?" by Michael Ohajuru, scheduled for publication in 2025.

 

With over 13 years as a professional artist, Sharon’s creative journey has been shaped by a diverse background in science, education, and design. She originally trained as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, producing detailed histological drawings, before later working as a Montessori Teacher and Sure Start Manager. Seeking to fully embrace her artistic identity, she pursued a graphic design course at Central Saint Martins, which reignited her passion for visual storytelling. She later obtained a BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and specialized in 3D illustration.

 

Sharon’s work is characterized by scraperboard etchings, illustration, and mixed media techniques, creating bold and intricate pieces that explore identity, heritage, and diaspora narratives. Her commitment to showcasing Black British culture is evident in both her solo work and her curatorial projects.

 

In 2017, she curated Diaspora Dialogue at Winns Gallery, an exhibition dedicated to amplifying the voices of artists from the African and Caribbean diaspora. Her work was also featured in ‘A Windrush Legacy: British Caribbean Art & Culture’ at Rich Mix, London in 2019, highlighting the contributions of British Caribbean artists to the UK’s cultural landscape.

 

Since establishing Alicia Dean Artworks in 2011, a name that honors her children, she has remained dedicated to ensuring that Black artists receive the recognition they deserve. Inspired by the legacies of Faith Ringgold, Lubaina Himid, Sonia Boyce, Kerry James Marshall, and Chris Ofili, she continues to create and exhibit work that enriches contemporary discussions on culture, history, and representation.