Born in 1982 in Leipzig, Germany
Lives and works in Normandy, France
Born to Russian parents, Irina Shark grew up in Ukraine and later in Russia. After completing a master’s degree in linguistics in Paris, she lived and worked in Hong Kong for several years, where she began sculpting. She later continued her practice in Florence at Studio Via dei Conti, working alongside other sculptors, before settling in Normandy.
Since 2019, she has developed a body of work conceived primarily for casting in bronze. Initially focused on portraiture and the fragmented body—most notably through the Silenzio series—her practice is now evolving towards more narrative, conceptually engaged and at times abstract forms. Working directly in wax, she preserves its tensions, accidents and traces of gesture.
In 2020, her work received the Alain Brugnon Prize from the Fondation Taylor and the Michel Dimon Prize from the Salon des Artistes Français. It has also been selected for FACE in London, Figurativas in Barcelona and the Art Renewal Center. She is currently developing new works, studies and maquettes for monumental sculpture projects in China.
She is represented by Galerie L’Œil du Prince.
Awards
2023
Finalist, FACE 2023–Society of Portrait Sculptors
2020
Alain Brugnon Prize–Fondation Taylor
Michel Dimon Prize–Salon des Artistes Français
Honourable Mention–230th Salon des Artistes Fraçais
2019
Finalist, Figurativas 2019–Museu Europeu d'Art Modern
Finalist, 14th International ARC Salon–Art Renewal Center
Finalist, FACE 2019–Society of Portrait Sculptors
2018
Finalist, FACE 2018–Society of Portrait Sculptors
Selected exhibitions
2026
Thoughts, Winds, DeQiu Art District, Shanghai, China
Group exhibition, Fondation Taylor, Paris, France
2024
Group exhibition, OFI Invest, Paris, France
Group exhibition, Gallery 29 Hoche, Paris, France
2023
Group exhibition, Saint-Pierre Church, Touques, France
FACE 2023, The Garrison Chapel, London, United Kingdom
2022
Botanik' Art, La Manche, France
Prizewinners' Exhibition , Fondation Taylor, Paris, France
2020
Art de la Conversation, I - Gallery in partnership with Galerie Hors-Champs, Paris, France
Salon des Artistes Français, Art Capital, Grand Palais, Paris, France
2019
Creation, solo exhibition, Quai Malaquais, Paris, France
FACE 2019, The Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
Salon d'Automne, Champs-Elysées, Paris, France
Figurativas 2019, Museu Europeu d'Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain
2018
FACE 2018, The Galleria Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom
