Shara Mays (b. Princeville, NC) lives and works in Oakland, California, and Cartagena, Colombia. Her work is a dialogue between identity and environment. Through her interest in paint, color theory, and landscape language, she explores themes of access and restriction, inviting reflection on belonging. Mays is interested in exploring stories connected to African diasporic heritage as sources of inspiration. She reflects on personal histories related to land and its communities, fostering discussions about land ownership and who has the right to claim the memory of a particular place. Shara Mays received her BFA from The Corcoran College of Art and Design and her MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Select solo and group shows include The Pit, Los Angeles, California (2025), Hunter Dunbar Projects, New York, New York (2024), Harper’s Gallery, East Hampton, New York (2024), James Cohan Gallery, New York, New York (2024), LatchKey Gallery, New York, New York (2023), Green Family Art Foundation, Dallas, Texas (2023), the International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (2023), Chandran Gallery, San Francisco, California (2022), and Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, California (2022). Art Fairs include NADA Miami, EXPO Chicago, and Felix Art Fair. Residencies include the Meta Open Arts AIR Program, Headlands Center for the Arts, and Vermont Studio Center. Mays's work is included in public and private collections, including the International African American Museum, the Green Family Art Foundation, OZ Art NWA, and Art in Embassies.