"The Balancing" (2022) drawing by Shelley Zentner

Shelley Zentner’s constantly evolving style is deeply rooted in the Welsh art tradition – dark, dramatic and filled with poetry. Expertly rendered in charcoal and oils, her work can be described as narrative impressionist realism.

Born in Wales, Shelley began figure drawing at age 11, staged her first exhibition as a professional artist at 20, and became a gallery owner at 25. After a career hiatus involving burnout, travel, falling in love, becoming a mother, teaching art, and surviving cancer, Shelley has resumed her full-time artist status.

Studying art with the force of nature Peter Prendergast in the ’90s, Shelley discovered that her family’s strong work ethic also applied to art. Prendergast’s shouted mantra to his students was to KEEP LOOKING!

That advice stuck. Whether painting landscapes, victims of war or psychologically challenging portraits, Shelley’s willingness to confront the complicated truth of existence with a sense of hope is the hallmark of her work.

Shelley works and lives with her family in Lake Tahoe, California.