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Video Credit: Ben Franks
Now Featuring
Original Works by Gary Cooks
Welcome to Shonda's Art.
Thanks so much for coming by.
Check out my latest creations below or click around to see my Dad's artistic debut,
take a look behind the curtain to see what makes me tick, behind the scenes of murals, series, experiences, digital work and more.
Video Credit: Ben Harris
 wherethewildthingsgrow5 x 5 inch mini digital print from Journal Series. |  release5 x 5 inch mini digital print from Journal Series. |  breathe5 x 5 inch mini digital print from Journal Series. |
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 Pony Vine Exhale5 x 5 inch mini digital print from Journal Series. |  'Til the Cows Come Home: Ode to Jane Warren24 x 24 inch bandana with fabric paint and miniature cows on wood hanging bar with wooden stars. |  'Til the Cows Come Home: Ode to Johanna July24 x 24 inch bandana with fabric paint and miniature cows on wood hanging bar with wooden stars. |
 'Til the Cows Come Home: Ode to Mary Fields24 x 24 inch bandana with fabric paint and miniature cows on wood hanging bar with wooden stars. |  addys_swallowed_tears24 x 24 inch mixed media acrylic painting on wood with Scrabble pieces. Created for "Tears" Show at African American Museum of Dallas in 2020. Features American Girl Book character Addy with an image of Emmett Till's mother Mamie Till crying emblazoned on her dress. Show explored how some tears carry more weight than others based on the demographics of their owner. Scrabble words are a quote from Addy's book where she is told to stop crying in the face of immeasurable pain. |  alice_tears2021acryliconmixedmedia24in24 x 24 inch mixed media acrylic painting on wood panel with Scrabble wood pieces. Created in 2020 for the "Tears" Show at the African American Museum of Dallas, curated by Jennifer Cowley, the piece features fictional Alice in Wonderland in the scenes where she cries and nearly drowns the entire environment due to her massive size. An image of the Central Park dogwalker woman Amy Cooper is emblazoned on her chest. Show explores how some tears weigh more than others based on the owner. |
 Blues is Truth Wanda King StudyA 24 x 24 inch study piece for the Wanda King Blues is Truth Mural in Deep Ellum's Blues Alley. During a phone interview with the famed female band leader I asked her to define blues, and she said blues is truth. The image tries to capture the joy and pain Blues embodies. |  Waiting IIWaiting II was inspired by my time waiting in Gare d'Oest for a train from Paris to Orquevaux for my 2023 residency. The train station buzzed with activity and amidst the traffic and language barrier I found myself a bit overwhelmed. I sat down and people-watched to see how others navigated and tucked their wares. I spotted this beauty, calmly waiting, on her phone with her baby girl in tow and felt instantly relieved. Her wallet is tucked beneath her sweatshirt. This painting is my thanks. |  BrandsCreated in 2020 when major household brands decided to remove Black images as a way to signify progress. I created a still life from the products at home to explore the connection between marketing and identity for breakfast items. |
 Granny's Wish23.5 x 23.5 inch acrylic on wooden round panel. My granny passed away when I was 17. I love this throwback picture of me and my little sis at her first bday party in a long time. I wanted to capture her huge presence, warmth and beauty. |  Daddy's Little Girls23.5 x 23.5 inches on circle acrylic on wooden round panel. $5000 Image depicts me, my little sis and Dad in a tender moment. I'm reading and looking in awe at the baby while Dad balances us on the couch. |  Well-Watered Garden36 x 36 inches acrylic on canvas $2400 This piece was created during a live painting session in 2024. I selected an image of a floral bride-to-be by a brilliant Brazilian photographer and rendered her in my strokes. Both the photographer and bride marveled the final piece when I tagged him. Felt surreal. I love how peaceful she appears to be. |
 Cake12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas. $500 In Sanctuary, I explored definitive moments from my youth that shaped my identity. I loved my birthday because it was solely mine. Lol. I felt like a princess most times. This image is based on a photograph of me from one of those childhood parties, blowing and wishing. |  Coronation12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas. $500 Depicts a time in elementary school that is now a core memory of me and several classmates dressing up in gowns, pearls and gloves to sing for a coronation "one moment in time." I remember the smoky smell of the boutique and feeling very elegant. |  Texas Made24 x 24 inches acrylic on heavy duty canvas $700 Captures my exploration of identity through place, awards and applause. |
 Juggler12 x 12 acrylic on canvas (framed) $500 Depicts my mom balancing me, my party and herself during early childhood. I was my parent's first child and am in awe now that I'm older than they were when we arrived. |  The Choice12 x 12 acrylic on canvas (frame) $400 Based on an image from a childhood pageant where I appear more engrossed with my prize than with my escort. |  Happy Birthday/Joyeux anniversarie$9000 60 x 69 inches Acrylic on unstretched canvas. Piece explores my childhood fascination with birthday parties and celebrations. I was really shy but thankful for my little sis and cousins as built in friends to accompany the few friends I made on my own. This image captures the conundrum of me trying to ignore my little sis while remaining present with other guests as I received gifts. She hadn't learned the importance of sharing attention at that point. |
 The Wonder Boy$6000 30 x 59 inches Created as my way to honor James Baldwin and his connection to France while I was in Orquevaux Residency in 2023. I collected French playing cards from a Paris gift shop about the revolution and incorporated those into the piece along with French roses, a sketch of a cheshire cat (my nod to Alice in Wonderland and Baldwin's uncanny resemblance to the character in both appearance and wit) and drew a sketch of him based on a public domain image I liked. |  lean12 x 12 acrylic on canvas (framed) sold. Depicts my grandmother Gigi and my grandfather figure, her husband Chuck, during one of their visits to our house during my childhood. I loved when they came. They always felt like the rich, sophisticated relatives. I didn't know my late teens that she was my bio grandmother. |  Love Pew12 x 12 acrylic on canvas (framed) NFS My parents met at my dad's church due to someone arsoning my mom's home church. A weird kismet. This painting is a nod to that origin story. |
 Handful12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas (frame) ***sold*** Nod to my youth as a stellar student and loose sense of self based on accomplishment. |  5 of diamondsxtra large playing card with ink sketch (in 5 x 7 inch frame) |  9 of spadesextra large playing card with sketch (sold) |
 king of clubsxtra large playing card with ink sketch in 5 x 7 inch frame |  3 of diamondsxtra large playing card with ink sketch (sold) |  2 of clubsxtra large playing card with ink sketch (sold) |
 9 of clubsxtra large playing card with ink sketch |  Jokerxtra large playing card with ink sketch (sold) |  jack of clubsxtra large playing card with ink sketch |
 Am I the Villain$8000 40 x 65 inches Acrylic on unstretched canvas. Depicts a conversation with myself regarding my role in my stories. Am I the villain? Am I the damsel? The truth lies somewhere in between. |  Big and Cece12 x 12 inches **Sold** Painting based on a photo of my dad's mom also known as my Big Mama and my little sister. |  Mine, Yours and Ours***sold***Painting based on a vintage photo of me and my little sister, Candace. She loved taking my toys. And would routinely cry at my birthday parties when we were little because she didn't understand why the gifts were mine alone. Normally, the toys would eventually land in her hands. LOL. She's crying in this painting as I grinned with my newest acquisition, a bronze Raggedy Ann doll. |
 Taylor Made12 x 12 inches. NFS. Painting based on a vintage photo of my Granny and Gigi. They both hailed from Taylor, Texas. |  Addy's Swallowed Tears24 x 24 in mixed media piece created for Tears Exhibition at African American Musuem of Dallas. Available $1000 |  Humpty Dumpty Reconciled24 x 24 in mixed media piece created for Tears Exhibition at African American Museum of Dallas. I created this particular piece during the brutal winter storm in February. I wanted to try and capture my frustration and disbelief in true reconciliation between White and Black women en masse. Available $1000 |
 Alice and the Pool of Tears24 x 24 in mixed media piece created for Tears Exhibition at African American Museum. Available $1000. |  Shonda's MaskSOLD. self portrait on bamboo plate. |  ceceNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |
 alexisNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |  tavieNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |  sheilaNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |
 jNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |  grannyNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |  hairstorycolorNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |
 keimaNFS. Part of Hair Story series for African American Museum of Dallas. |  sis pearsonNFS. |  Jump12 inch acrylic on round canvas. Part of my Quarantine Series, depicting me finding a sanctuary jump roping in the midst of the chaotic season. $300 |
 Free SkateSOLD 12 inch acrylic on canvas. Part of my Quarantine Series depicting my sister finding her sanctuary skating in the street outside our Oak Cliff home to escape from the chaos of this season of COVID and killings. |  Off With Her Head24 x 36 in acrylic on canvas with mixed media playing cards added. Depicts Eartha Kitt's reality being blackballed by Lady Bird Johnson with an Alice in Wonderland twist. $2400 |  We're All Mad Here30 x 48 acrylic on canvas with mixed media playing cards added. Depicts an interpretation of Nina Simone's "Four Women" with an Alice in Wonderland twist. $4800 |
 Love on Cloud 9NFS 24 x 36 in acrylic on canvas collaboration with Jamaal Eversley. |  Sleeping BeautySOLD. 11 x 14 in acrylic on linen board. |  spike11 x 14 acrylic on canvas board. Collabo with Jamaal Eversley. On view/sale at Beacon Gallery in Boston September through October. |
 Ripples***sold*** 24 x 24 in Painting for Color Me Empowered Auction. |  maskedmlkNFS. Collab with Mayor's Rising Star Council tweaked with digital masks |  I Prefer EiffelSOLD. 16 x 20 in mixed media on framed kraft paper. Depicts Josephine Baker and the dilemma of being mocked by Statue of Liberty as a Black woman in America. |
 Hurdles11.5 x 48 in acrylic on canvas. pending sale $660 |  First LadySOLD. 16 x 20 in acrylic on canvas. |  HazelSOLD. 11 x 14 in mixed media on framed kraft paper. |
 HorizonNFS. Collabo with Jamaal Eversley. Gifted to Oprah's assistant (I hope) during her wellness tour to Dallas. |  Dwayne***SOLD***Collabo piece wth Jamaal Eversley. Heading to Boston for dispaly at Beacon Gallery |  Dinner?Acrylic on cardboard depicting TV moms confronting food deserts. |
 DetourSOLD. 8 x 10 in acrylic on canvas. |  Lady Justice***sold*** 18 X 24 in mixed media on canvas. |  Dip11 x 14 in acrylic on canvas |
 PurrfectSOLD. 12 x 25 in acrylic on canvas. |  GloriaSOLD. 24 x 36 in acrylic on canvas. |  GazeSOLD. 4 x 12 in acrylic on canvas. |
 IngridNFS |  Doubles30 x 40 acrylic on canvas. $6000 |  Down The Rabbit Hole**SOLD**24 x 24 in mixed media on canvas. |
 Supreme11 x 14 in acrylic on canvas. $500 |  Love RainSOLD.12 x 24 in acrylic on canvas. |  FridaSOLD. 12 x 24 in acrylic on canvas. |
 Stretch12 x 24 in acrylic on canvas. $700 |  Mirror Mirror20 x 20 inch acrylic painting on heavy duty canvas $800 |  Harnaam8 x 8 in acrylic on canvas. |
 GlareSOLD. 4 x 12 in acrylic on canvas. |  HatladySold. 4 x 4 in acrylic on canvas. |  GrannyNFS |
 Zoe Green and Blue16 x 20 acryic on canvas. $500 |  Audrey through the looking glass18 x 30 in acrylic on canvas. $500 |  Obama kissSOLD. 18 x 24 in acrylic on canvas. |
 MomNFS |  Dorothy and the Forbidden Fruit24 X 24 in acrylic on canvas. $500 |  Come on!11 x 14 in acrylic on canvas. $400 |
 AscensionSOLD. 4 x 12 " acrylic on canvas |  Toni20 x 20 " acrylic on frame kraft paper $400 |  Ntoshake20 x 20 " framed acrylic on kraft paper $400 |
 Eyes Collabo with JamaalSold. |  St Louis Blues***NFS***24 x 36 " painting based on a scene featuring Nat King Cole and Eartha Kitt. |
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