CURRICULUM VITAE 

(a written summary of a person's career, qualifications, and education)

SYLVIA SYKES 

Website:https://www.sylviasykesart.com

Email: sylviapaints1@gmail.com

SylviaPaints on all social media platforms.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Working Artist /Gallery Owner/Kids Art Teacher (Self Employed). JAN 2015 - Present. 

  • Exhibition Volunteer - Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, JAN 2022 - Present 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS / DISPLAYS

  • 2024 - “The Aunties”. APR-JUNE. Summit Artspace, Akron, OH. (solo exhibition )

  • 2024 -  Featured Artist at Muggswigz Coffee. DEC-MAR 2024, Portage Lakes, OH (public display)

  • 2023 - “The Book of Akron 3:30” at Akron Soul Train. SEPT - OCT 2023, Akron, OH.  (solo exhibition)

  • 2023  - Featured Artist at Kave Coffee Bar. FEB-MAR 2023, Barberton, OH. (public display)

  • 2022 -  “SylviaPaints Seniors” Fundraiser Exhibit. OCT. VANTAGE Aging, Akron, OH. (solo exhibition)

  • 2022 - “The Equinox” SEPT - OCT. White Rabbit Gallery, Barberton, OH. (solo exhibition)

  • 2022 - “Crowns” JUL-AUG. Muggswigz, Akron, OH. (solo exhibition)

  • 2021 - Featured Artist at Muggswigz Coffee. NOV-DEC, Canton, OH (public display)

  • 2021 - Featured Artist at Kave Coffee Bar. July 2021. Barberton, OH (public display)

  • 2021 - “Grand Opening”. SylviaPaints Art Studio & Gallery. MAY-JUNE, Barberton, OH. (solo exhibition)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024 - “Chroma” AUG-SEPT. White Rabbit Galleries. Barberton, OH

  • 2024 - “2024 DayGlo Show” MAR. Waterloo Arts, Cleveland, OH. 

  • 2024 - “Creative Extensions” FEB. East Ave Market, Akron, OH. 

  • 2024 - “People in Places w/ Things & Ideas” JAN-MAR. Summa Health Gallery, Akron, OH. 

  • 2024 - “2024 Flora” JAN - FEB. White Rabbit Galleries. Barberton, OH. 

  • 2023 - “The Winter Soul-stice Alumni  Show” JUNE-JULY. Akron Soul Train. Akron, OH. 

  • 2023 - “The Groundhog Show” JUNE. The Warehouse. Portage Lakes, OH. 

  • 2023 - “Kaleidoscope” - APR-AUG. Stewart’s Caring Place. Akron, OH. 

  • 2023 - “2023 Flora” JAN - FEB - White Rabbit Galleries. Barberton, OH. 

  • 2022 - “Life on the Portage Path” OCT -Stewards of Historical Pres. Akron, OH

  • 2022 - “Community” JULY-NOV. GAR Foundation, Akron, OH.

  • 2022  - “Homegrown” JUNE. 1474 ArtInc Gallery. Akron, OH.

  • 2022 - “The Color Purple”. Weathervane Playhouse FEB-MAR, Akron, OH. 

  • 2022 - “Come Hang With Us” FEB - APR at East Ave Market, Akron, OH

  • 2022 - “Elevating Our Mood” FEB-MAY at Summa Health Gallery, Akron, OH. 

  • 2021 - “State of the Arts” Event at Quaker Square.December,  Akron, OH

  • 2021 - “Outlined in Black”, Crea8tive Gallery. OCT 23 in Akron, OH. 

EDUCATION 

  • 2024 - Bird Carving. Tom Baldwin. CVAC. SEP-DEC. Cuy. Falls, OH

  • 2023  - Drawing Course. Kit Palencar. CVAC. APR-JUNE. Cuy. Falls, OH

  • 2023 - The Art of Mural Design Workshop. Matt Miller. APR. Akron Art Museum.

  • 2023 - Doggone It (Sculpting Workshop). E. Polzer. Akron Soul Train. APR. Akron, OH 

  • 2023 - Screen Printing Workshop. Akron Soul Train. JAN. Akron, OH. 

  • 2022 - Master Maker Sessions. Crafty Mart. AUG-SEPT. Akron, OH.

  • 2022 -  Oil Painting Course. Linda Hutchinson. CVAC. ) JUL-AUG. Cuy. Falls, OH. 

  • Early Life - Miller South School for the Visual & Performing Arts. (4th-8th Grade)

PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS 

  • 2024 - Traffic Box Art Project - City of Akron, OH Arts Commission.

  • 2024 - Akron T-Shirt Artist - Akron T-Shirt Club Commission.

  • 2023 - Goodyear Film Poster: 125th Anniversary - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

  • 2022 - Faces of Akron - Summit Artspace.

  • 2022 - Traffic Box Art Project - City of Stow, OH Arts Commission.

  • 2022 - Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, Public art for Executive Hallway. 

  • 2021 - Akron Art Mail Project - The Akron Art Museum and The Akron Summit County Public Library.

AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS 

  • 2024 - BIPOC+ Exhibition Recipient. Summit Artspace. January. Akron, OH. 

  • 2023 - Akron Soul Train Art Residency. Akron Soul Train. August 2023. Akron, OH. 

  • 2022 - Master Maker Session Scholarship. Crafty Mart. July. Akron, OH. 

  • 2022 - 2024 Vibrant Palette Scholarship. 3x recipient. CVAC. Cuyahoga Falls, OH. 

PRINT & DIGITAL MEDIA  

  • 2024 - “To a Tee” - Akron Life Magazine - Print edition. June 14. 

  • 2024 - “Akron Artist Sylvia Sykes Explores Role of Aunties in New Exhibit” - SignalAkron.com. April 04. 

  • 2024 - “Spring Exhibitions will Open at Summit Artspace” - West Side Leader - Print edition March 21-27. 

  • 2024 - “Artist Sylvia Sykes Selected for BIPOC+ Exhibition at Summit Artspace''. SummitArtspace.org. Jan. 30. 

  • 2023 - “Exhibition Opening: Sylvia Sykes: “The Book of Akron 3:30” and Footprints show & Fundraiser”. Downtownakron.com September 07. 

  • 2023 - “Akron Soul Train Fundraiser “Footprints” and & Sylvia Sykes Exhibition “The Book of Akron 3:30’”. Clevelandartevents.com. August 30. 

  • 2023 - “ Reed 156: Web Exclusive Art”. reedmag.org. June 01. 

  • 2023 - “Goodyear: 125 Years in Motion Posters” corporate.goodyear.com . May 09. 

  • 2023 - “Art Lab Challenge” Akron Art Museum View Magazine. Spring Print edition. 

  • 2022 - “Summit Artspace Falls Exhibits Open Oct 7”. Cleveland.com October 04. 

  • 2022 - “Sylvia Sykes ‘The Equinox’ Exhibit”. Akron Life Magazine. September Print edition. 

  • 2022 - “Summit Artspace King and Queens Mural Initiative” CAN Journal. Print edition Summer 2022. 

  • 2022 - “Daily Inspiration - Meet Sylvia Sykes”. Voyage Ohio Magazine. Print edition July 28. 

  • 2022 - “Summer Exhibits Open at Summit Artspace”. DowntownAkronPartnership.com June 24. 

  • 2022 - “Featured Artist” United Way of Summit & Medina Leadership Book Spring print edition. 

  • 2021 - “Akron Black Artist Guild hosts first exhibition” by Kerry Clawson. beaconjournal.com October 21. 

  • 2021 - “Akron Art Mail Returns to the Akron Art Museum” by Regina Lynch, akronartmuseum.org July 28. 

  • 2020 - “How Black Artists are Practicing Self Care” by Josy Jones. thedevilstrip.com, June 29.

ART JURYING EXPERIENCE

  • 2024 - Akron Soul Train (AST) - Guest juror for the 2024-2025 AST Residency program on a panel with Board of Directors. 

  • 2023 - Akron Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO)- Judge in the Visual Art and Photography categories for High School students. 

  • 2022 - White Rabbit Galleries - Served as Curator & Judge for the 1 year Anniversary show “Down the Rabbit Hole”.

COLLECTIONS 

  • 2024 - Summa Health Healing Gallery. Akron, OH. 

  • 2023 - Akron Community Foundation. Akron, OH. 

  • 2023 - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Akron, OH. 

  • 2022 - Greater Akron Chamber. Akron, OH. 

  • 2021 - VANTAGE Aging. Akron, OH. 

MEMBER OF: 

  • Akron Soul Train, Joined 2023.