The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
2025 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition
Shirley Kaye Perkins
ArtistMillersport Ohio 43046 United States Home Phone: 614-571-5787
Bio
I was born in 1964 and grew up in rural Ohio. Since childhood I always loved all types of art but was fascinated with glass. In my late twenties I moved out to San Diego California to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. I was accepted and attended Palomar College majoring in offhand glass blowing. My main influences became Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra.
While in San Diego, I had the honor and privilege of meeting one of Dale Chihuly’s longtime friends, a renowned artist by the name of Italo Scanga. Italo and I became dear friends. Along with my training at Palomar, I would meet with Italo several times a week to practice my art and gain insight into the art world. Italo inspired my originality and validated my artistic value.
My first works of art were quickly recognized and were featured in Giorgio’s Art Glass Collection of Beverly Hills in La Jolla and Laguna. I built a glass blowing studio at my home in San Diego. Over a nine-year period, my work could be found in the top 100 art galleries across the nation.
I later moved back to Ohio. Today, I am designing and creating art again in my personal studio on Lieb’s Island in Millersport, Ohio. A constant experimenter, my passion now is more toward painting with acrylic on wood, canvas, and cloth. I love to incorporate the beauty of bright colors in my work as I did so many years ago with my glass.
Artist Statement
Since childhood art has been a language and a place of refuge for me. At a very young age, I struggled with reading and writing from dyslexia. I found that where you have a weakness, God gives you a greater strength. I learned quickly that my art was special, not only to me but others. My art has been a huge gift. Both a place of great comfort and a place to hide and have refuge from my own thoughts and experiences in my life.
As a young child, color has always been such a bright spot in my life and has allowed me to express myself in wonderful ways. Color in my world, and my art itself, has given me strength, joy, and peace that is beyond any way for me to express myself and how I am feeling at different times in my life.
The colors I paint with are truly what I see in people, places, and things all around me. My work gives me more joy than any emotions without explanation as my color flows onto my canvas of many types.
My hope is that it brings others as much joy as it does to me!
With a grateful heart and love,
Shirley Kaye Perkins