Claire Sherman earned a fellowship in the fine arts
April 2026 – Drew University Art Professor Claire Sherman has been announced a 2026 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow.
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Photo by: Jonathon Cancro
Sherman was one of 223 individuals selected for the 101st class of Guggenheim Fellows, who were selected out of a pool of nearly 5,000 applicants and represent 55 different disciplines.
“This recognition is very meaningful support for my work as a painter, and I’m so grateful and honored to be included amongst so many distinguished peers,” said Sherman, who plans to use the fellowship to spend time researching the ecosystems of the American South and the relationship of William Faulkner’s writing to American Southern landscape.
“The process of developing new ideas and work can be slow, with many false starts and mistakes along the way,” Sherman added. “The fellowship will allow me some time to think through these directions, which I know will be incredibly beneficial for years to come as my paintings continue to grow, develop, and change.”
While the fellowship will have direct ties to Sherman’s future work, it also impacts her role as a professor and mentor at Drew.
“I am always telling students that you can’t achieve something that you don’t reach for. We all need to be encouraged to put ourselves forward for opportunities, no matter where we are in our careers.”
Sherman’s work serves as an example for students with varied interests seeking a path to join them in one medium.
“My interests are interdisciplinary—my work engages with the history of science and exploration, American landscape traditions, William Faulkner’s writing, and our changing climate. I hope to be able to bring back these overlapping interests and research to the classroom as I develop new classes and curriculum.”
Sherman is the second member of Drew University Art Department to receive a Guggenheim in recent years, following Professor and Chair of Art Rebecca Soderholm in 2022.
