Separate and Together
Bill and Sharon Grader will be exhibiting their show “Separate and Together: A Collaborative Artistic Journey” in the EAFF Gallery at Frances Anderson Center until February 27, 2025.
Bill and Sharon Grader share a deeply rooted, dynamic, creative partnership that blends individuality with collaboration. Their unique artistic relationship, encapsulated in Separate and Together, is a testament to their ability to pursue their distinct artistic visions while seamlessly integrating their creative processes. They combine their separate works through collaboration to create vibrant, thought-provoking, and one-of-a-kind art pieces.
Bill Grader: Sculptor, Designer, and Visionary
Bill Grader is an accomplished sculptor, wall artist, and furniture designer who works primarily with wood, driftwood, and a variety of mixed media. His innovative approach incorporates natural stones, repurposed metal elements, plastic toy and model parts, and found objects, all of which he transforms into compelling sculptures and functional art pieces. Bill’s work is characterized by his exceptional ability to see artistic potential in materials that would otherwise be discarded. By reimagining and recontextualizing these elements, he imbues each creation with a new narrative and history, giving old objects a fresh life and purpose. Bill earned his Bachelor of Arts in Art from Seattle Pacific University, where he developed his distinctive artistic style and passion for environ- mental and conceptual art.
Sharon Grader: Painter, Teacher, and Mixed-Media Artist
Sharon Grader is an abstract painter and mixed-media artist whose work is fueled by a deep passion for exploring texture, form, and color. She specializes in encaustic painting, abstract compositions, and mixed-media techniques, often working with found objects, dyed silk, rusted paper, encaustic monoprinting, sumi ink, watercolor, oil paints, and cold wax. Sharon’s artistic process is intuitive and experimental, allowing her to push the boundaries of traditional painting while embracing the unpredictable nature of her materials. A committed lifelong learner, Sharon continuously expands her artistic knowledge through study and practice, focusing on mark-making, asemic writing, and printmaking. She is also an avid teacher, sharing her expertise through workshops and courses nationally and locally. Sharon is an active member of Women Painters of Washington, contributing to the community of women artists in the Pacific Northwest.
Artistic Representation and Exhibitions
Bill and Sharon’s works are represented by the Lynn Hanson Gallery in Pioneer Square, Seat tle, where their art has been featured in numerous exhibitions. In addition to the Lynn Hanson Gallery, their work has been displayed in prestigious venues such as the Graphite Art Gallery, the Edmonds Arts Festival, The City of Edmonds Art on the Fence, ERA University House, the Edmonds Waterfront Center, the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council Show, and Arts of the Terrace. Their art has also garnered multiple awards, further cementing their reputation as accomplished artists in the Pacific Northwest.
Together, Bill and Sharon Grader continue to inspire and engage audiences through their distinc- tive and collaborative art practices, creating works that tell stories of transformation, creativity, and innovation.