About Sharp Art

The Sharp Art Company and Website are managed by Gene Sharp’s daughter, Lucy, with assistance from her son, Alan.

In August, 2018, while residing in Seattle and visiting his mother in Colorado, Alan found two freshly damaged Gene Sharp original watercolors in storage in Lucy’s basement. Appalled, he suggested to Lucy that it was finally time to open the gallery she’d been dreaming of for years.

In May, 2019, Lucy took up residence in Elkader, Iowa, the birthplace of both of her parents and a treasured vacation destination in her earliest childhood memories.

Lucy is the first Sharp to reside in Elkader in decades. Lucy’s maternal grandfather, Harold Hall, was the successful businessman who opened Elkader’s first movie theater in the 1920s, which still operates today. Lucy’s paternal grandfather (Gene’s father) served as the town’s mayor.

In addition to displaying original artwork, Elkader’s 2020 “Legacy Award”-winning Sharp Art Gallery sold prints, merchandise, art supplies, and offered art classes to the community.

The Sharp Art Gallery permanently closed its doors in late 2021 but Gene’s artwork lives on through sharpartiowa.com and prints seen on this website are for sale. Please email sharpartiowa@gmail.com for more information!