Shanny Lott first attended the University of Texas in the 1960s, where she studied sculpture under Charles Umlauf, a dynamic and inspiring teacher. Although her painting instructors at the time were less enthusiastic about her abilities, leading her to believe she wasn’t a painter, her interest in the arts remained strong. Like many during that era, she became distracted by the times and didn’t return to complete her degree until 1989. Reentering the Sculpture Department older, wiser, and with a new perspective, she came to appreciate just how physically demanding sculpture could be.

Reluctant to revisit painting due to her earlier experience, Shanny nonetheless faced a painting requirement to graduate—and decided to confront it. What she found upstairs in the painting department surprised her: a more welcoming, encouraging environment that ultimately changed her path. She never returned to the sculpture studios. Shanny earned her BFA from the University of Texas on May 19, 1990—her birthday—which she considers the greatest gift she ever gave herself.

She began painting seriously in 1992. Since then, her paintings have traveled across the country, finding homes in Boulder City, Nevada; Littleton, Colorado; Malibu, California; and Destin, Florida. Her work lives with friends, family, and strangers alike. What brings her the most joy is meeting the people who purchase her paintings—discovering the unexpected connections they share. Her art has become a way of finding her worldly kin.