About Artist Shirley Wallitsch
Shirley Wallitsch is a Wyoming-born artist whose work is deeply rooted in nature and shaped by a lifetime of creative exploration. Working primarily in painting, her approach is intuitive and expressive, guided by emotion, memory, and a strong connection to the natural world.
Her work reflects a journey that has moved through multiple disciplines—from painting to large-scale sculptural forms—always grounded in a desire to explore beyond the surface. Today, Wallitsch's paintings focus on color and movement, inviting viewers into a more personal and immersive experience.
Based in New Jersey, she is the founder of Wallitsch Art Gallery in Westfield.
My story...
My journey as an artist began in Sheridan, Wyoming, at the base of the Bighorn Mountains. Surrounded by open sky and wide landscapes, I had the freedom to imagine and create. Looking out at the mountains and up at the stars gave me a sense of wonder that has never left me.
As a teenager, a mentor introduced me to art, music, and philosophy. That experience opened something in me—I knew I wanted more, and I felt a strong pull to go to New York and pursue a life in art.
I hitchhiked east and was accepted into an art guild community in upstate New York. It was there that I began to paint. Soon after, I apprenticed with a painter in Manhattan while studying at the Art Students League. Living in New York City and visiting museums, seeing the works I had only read about, was transformative.
Over time, my path expanded beyond painting into sculpture. I began working with vines and wood gathered from nature, creating large-scale organic forms. That work grew into Vine Works, where I designed sculptural furniture and installations for both private and commercial spaces.
In 1997, I moved to New Jersey and returned to painting. In 2020, I opened Wallitsch Art Gallery in Westfield—a space to exhibit and sell my work, and connect more directly with others through art.
My process...
Inspiration, for me, begins as a feeling—an inner spark that comes from nature, memory, or a moment of quiet awareness. It’s not something I plan; it’s something I respond to.
My painting process is intuitive. I work in layers, allowing each piece to evolve over time. Color, movement, and texture build on one another, creating a sense of depth and energy. Rather than following a fixed image, I let the work unfold naturally.
My years working with organic materials continue to influence how I paint. There is a physical, almost sculptural quality to the way I build a surface—each brushstroke responding to the last.
What I’m ultimately seeking is something that feels alive—something that captures emotion, atmosphere, and a connection to the natural world that words can’t fully express.