Biography
Tom Sheppard was born in Hastings, NE in 1946. He graduated from Hastings (NE) College in 1969 with a B.A. in art and a teaching certificate for grades K-12. He earned his MA from the University of Nebraska in 1999. For several years he taught art in public schools in Nebraska, most notably at York (NE) Public Schools (1973-1988) and Lincoln (NE) Public Schools (1992-2001). In 1999, he became the first teacher in Nebraska to receive National Board Certification in secondary art and, in 2000, he was named “Secondary Art Teacher of the Year” by the Nebraska Art Teacher’s Association (for the previous school year). Later the same year, he became one of three recipients of the “2000 Nebraska Teacher Achievement Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching” from the Peter Kiewit Foundation. Following a move to Iowa, he served as an adjunct professor in the education and art departments at Luther College (2001-2004). In the fall of 2004, Sheppard accepted an art teaching position with the Decorah (IA) Community Schools.
Sheppard’s art has been exhibited widely and he has received several awards and commissions. He has earned awards at the 5-State Show at the Art Center in Sioux City, IA; the annual Nebraska Art Educators Show; and Nebraska Wesleyan’s Fred Wells Juried Show. His work has been included in the Texas National Show, juried by nationally known artist Leon Golub; the 2003 ‘Impressions’ Show at the Blandon Art Museum in Ft. Dodge, IA; and exhibits at UNL’s Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery. In 2002, Sheppard was the focus of a solo exhibition at Luther College. His work can be found in several private and public collections including Doane College, Crete, NE; the Addison Museum of American Art in Andover, MA; the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and the Museum of Nebraska Art (M.O.N.A.) in Kearney. Sheppard has created work for many corporations, including Mitsubishi Motors, Security Mutual Life, Gallup, McDonald’s Restaurants, Gas ‘N Shop, Lincoln Benefit Life, Omaha Magazine, Smith-St. John Corporation, and the Omaha Housing Authority. His work has also been displayed in commercial galleries from San Diego to Santa Fe and Denver to St. Louis.
Sheppard says of his work:
“In 1984 I arrived at what I consider my most unique and personal work to this point. This style focuses on nonobjective painting, primarily in acrylic and latex with some work completed in watercolor.”
Source of Biography
jtsheppard.com