Shari Pedowitz
1997
acrylic and watercolor on canvas
20 x 24 inches
 
Shari Pedowitz’s Truffula Trees — showcased in a prestigious group exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tisch Galleries — is a joyous, whimsical escape into a world that captures the playful spirit of Dr. Seuss. Set against a soft, pale yellow backdrop, a fantastical forest of abstract trees stretches toward the sky with unrestrained exuberance. These aren’t ordinary trees; they’re Truffula Trees, reimagined through Shari’s gaze of pure, untamed joy.
 
Her foliage is a delightful fusion of cloud-like puffs in dreamy hues of blues, pinks, greens, and lavenders, evoking a light, airy atmosphere that whispers of sweet dreams and limitless imagination. Shari’s vibrant color palette invites you into a world where anything is possible. The floating canopies rest on slender, black trunks, their stark contrast adding a graphic, playful edge to her painting. Her trees seem to dance in a gentle breeze, beckoning you to join their whimsical ballet.
 
Shari’s mixed media art is a celebration of creativity’s power — a reminder that even in the revered halls of art history, there’s always room for joy and spontaneity. Truffula Trees encourages you to embrace whimsy, to delight in the simple beauty of a dream made real. It radiates Shari’s boundless joy and lighthearted spirit, proving that art doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful — it can be sophisticated, playful, and unapologetically fun, just like Shari herself.