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Sharon Koskoff
Full name Sharon Gail Koskoff
Born Sharon Koskoff
January 24th, 1954
Nationality - American
Occupation - Author, artist
Education - Brooklyn College BA 1974, Brooklyn College MA 1975, New York School of Interior Design 1977.
Parents Shirley & Rubin “Papa Ruby” Koskoff
Websites
- ArtDecoPB.org
- BySharon.com
- ArtintheAlley.org
Sharon Koskoff is an American artist, author, community activist, designer, educator, mural artist, photographer, preservationist, public speaker, and tour guide.
Early life and education
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sharon grew up in a creative environment. Her father owned a ladies' blouse factory where she learned to sew and design fashion. At age 14 Sharon’s older sister commissioned her very first mural and hence discovered her passion for large-scale projects.
As a child, Koskoff grew up in a creative atmosphere playing in her father’s ladies' blouse factory, exploring sewing machines, and designing elaborate costumes for her Barbie Dolls.
She painted her first mural at age 14 when her older sister Cheryl married and asked Sharon to paint a graphic design on the walls of her new apartment.
Koskoff attended Brooklyn College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Sculpture and Photography in 1974. She became certified in Color Theory in 1977 at the New York School of Interior Design.
After graduation, Koskoff worked in the needlecraft industry and started her own company, New York Needlecraft. Sharon sold her hand-painted custom designs to stores from New York to Florida. She signed all her original artwork “By Sharon”, her signature trademark, that became her website www.BySharon.com.
She moved to Delray Beach, Florida, in December 1985 where she turned her attention to painting murals and coordinating community projects full-time.
Arts Education
Sharon Koskoff received the Muse Award of Excellence in Arts Education by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County in 2014 for her work in the community. Every two years, the Muse Awards recognize outstanding organizations and individuals who have made an impact on the arts and cultural community.
In addition to painting full time, Koskoff taught classes at the Armory Art Center from 1987 to 2002, Very Special Arts (Arts4All) in 1989, Boca Raton School of Arts in 1990, Project Leap for the Center for Creative Education in the 1990s, and the Creative School of Arts at Old School Square from 2003 to 2022.
Koskoff was a museum group tour guide at the Society of the Four Arts from 2016 to 2020. She joined the Florida Humanities Speakers Bureau from 2014 to 2022, traveling throughout the state.
Career
Arts Career
Sharon Koskoff is the only artist on record to receive eight consecutive grants (1994 – 2002) from the Palm Beach County Cultural Council for the Neighborhood in Artist Residency Program (NARP). This award funded group art projects in multicultural areas. The Community Mural Projects, public murals located throughout Delray Beach, are the results of this effort. Sharon has also painted over 350 murals in the Palm Beach County public school system.
Sharon Koskoff met with Barbara Baer Capitman, the Queen of Art Deco in Miami Beach, who mentored her in Art Deco Preservation. Sharon became the Founding President Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches in 1987 and continues to serve to this day. She also joined Very Special Arts (Arts4All) in 1987 and is still a member. The same year, Koskoff joined the Armory Art Center as an Art Instructor, teaching until 2002. Between 1988 and 1992, she was the Vice President of Norton Artists’ Guild and was a Founding Board Member of Women in Visual Arts from 1989 to 1992.
Koskoff led the Community Chair Project (2000) where 15 Adirondack Chairs, painted by volunteers, were placed throughout the City of Delray Beach. She led the Delray Beach Flower Festival (2000 and 2003) where 100 at-risk students from Toussaint L’Overture High School created living floral installations using 15,000 live impatiens. She led the Cultural Loop Open Door Project (2003) where 111 doors were painted and installed at Delray Beach City Hall.
Between 1994 and 2002, Koskoff received eight consecutive grants from the Neighborhood Artist in the Residency Program from the Palm Beach County Arts Council. In 2003 she joined Old School Square as an Arts Instructor, serving until the present. From 2010 to 2015 she was Chairperson of Delray Beach Public Art Advisory Board, (PAAB). Koskoff was a Museum Group Tour Guide at the Society of the Four Arts from 2016 to 2020 and Board Secretary at the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies from 2001 to 2023.
From 2001 to 2014, Sharon worked with ten non-for-profit organizations that created 14-foot-tall puppets on wheels that marched in Delray Beach’s First Night New Year’s Eve parades.
In 2010, she partnered with Delray Beach city residents, Lisa and James Quillian, to organize Art in the Alley TM, an annual public art event. Koskoff recruits volunteer artists who paint mural panels which are then installed in the Osceola Park district of Delray Beach. The mission of which is “revitalization through creative community endeavors”. www.ArtintheAlley.org
Cultural Leadership Roles
- Vice President of the Artists’ Guild of the Norton Gallery & School of Art (1988-1992).
- Founding Board Member of the Women In The Visual Arts (1989).
- Secretary of the Artists of Palm Beach County (2005).
- Chairperson of the Delray Beach Public Art Advisory Board (2010 to 2015).
- Secretary of the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (2021 to 2023).
Art Deco Preservation
In 1986, Sharon met with Barbara Baer Capitman, the “Queen of Art Deco” in Miami Beach, who mentored her in Art Deco preservation.
In 1987, Sharon Koskoff became the Founding President of the Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches (ADSPB) a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 historic preservation organization.
In 1991, Capitman connected Art Deco societies worldwide by initiating the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS), a group that fosters networking and global conferences every two years.
Koskoff is an advocate of education and preservation of Art Deco and Twentieth Century art, architecture, and design found in the Palm Beaches. She identified and documented dozens of Art Deco structures and discovered that many of these previously overlooked hidden treasures were the home to “arts and cultural institutions”.
In 1989, she designed and painted the Art Deco architectural elements of the Old National Guard Armory in West Palm Beach. Built in 1939 by William Manly King, the historic structure is now the world class Armory Art Center.
In 2007, Koskoff designed a triangular, neon Art Deco Marquee for the Lake Worth Playhouse built in 1924. Originally the Oakley Theater, it was built by brothers Clarence and Lucien Oakley.
As an Art Deco Color Consultant, Koskoff used an Egyptian palette for the Wenger House design in 2012. Built as a private residence in 1948 in Delray Beach, it has been featured in many publications, on television, and a favorite stop for Art Deco tours.
History was made in the Palm Beaches when Koskoff hosted the 16th Art Deco World Post-Congress, a three-day tour, in collaboration with the Miami Design Preservation League and ICADS in April 2023. She guided Art Deco enthusiasts from around the globe for the biennial conference entitled “Modernism: Florida’s Hidden Treasures”.
Palm Beach Photographer Joel Cohen dubbed Koskoff as the “Duchess of Deco” continuing Barbara Capitman’s legacy in the historic preservation of Art Deco Modernism.
Personal Life
Sharon Koskoff has worked and lived in Delray Beach Florida since 1985.
Books
Sharon Koskoff wrote two books for Arcadia Publishing. Photograph credits belong to the author unless otherwise noted. The first book, Art Deco of the Palm Beaches, was written in 2007.
Murals of the Palm Beaches was written in 2018 and was awarded two Silver Medals in 2019: one in the category of Education from the Florida Book Awards and one in the category of Visual Arts from the Florida Authors & Publishers Association.
Awards and Recognition
- Hats Off! Award / Nonprofits First - 2023
- Legendary Locals / Arcadia Publications / Janet DeVries, Author - 2016
- Boys & Girls Club / House of Representatives / US Congress - 2015
- Accommodation Alcee L. Hastings
- Muse Awards, Winner Arts Educator Award of Excellence Cultural Council PBC - 2014-2016
- International Coalition of Art Deco Societies / Arts & Cultural Exchange Program, Havana, Cuba - 2013
- Finalist Arts Educator of the Year Muse Awards Cultural Council - 2010
- Finalist Women in Executive Leadership Award - 2009
- Finalist Arts Educator the Year Muse Awards Cultural Council – 2008
Historic Preservation
- Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches, Founding President since 1987
- Boca Raton Historical Society
- Boynton Beach Historical Society
- Delray Beach Historical Society
- Historical Society of Lake Worth
- ICADS International Coalition of Art Deco Societies
- Miami Design Preservation League
- Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Palm Beach County Historical Society
- Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach
Associations
- Armory Art Center
- Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square
- Norton Museum of Art
- Boca Raton Museum of Art
- Lake Worth Playhouse
- Florida Humanities Council Speakers Bureau
- Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
- Public Art Advisory Board of Delray Beach / Chairperson
- Arts 4 All / Very Special Arts, Florida
Public Art Commissions
- 3 G's Gourmet Deli
- 1991
- 505 Teen Center
- 2008
- 90 Southeast 5th Ave
- 2014
- Alone Together: Corona Crisis Collage
- 2020
- ARC VSA – 4 Murals
- 2016
- Armory Art Center
- 1995 - 2000
- Art & Jazz on the Avenue
- 1991
- Art in Public Places West Palm Beach Aesop's Tables
- 2017
- Art in the AlleyTM
- 2010 - present
- Artigas Art Festival
- 2000 - 2001
- Atlantic Community High School
- 1997 - 1998
- Banyan Creek Elementary School
- 2005 - 2011
- Barton Elementary School
- 2007 - 2008
- Belvedere Elementary School
- 2003 - 2004
- Boca Raton Elementary School
- 2002
- Boca Raton Express Museum Train Depot
- 2003
- Boynton Beach Art In Public Places
- 2008
- Boynton Beach Stage Left Theatre
- 2013
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America of Belle Glade
- 2014
- C.W. Gerstenberg Hospice Children’s Bereavement Room
- 1992
- Carver Middle School
- 1997 - 2000
- Castaways Bar & Grill
- 1997
- Centennial Mural West Palm Beach
- 1995
- Cezanne Jazz Club at Ramada Hotel
- 1994
- City of Aventura Founders Day Festival
- 2008 - 2010
- Clematis Street Bench Project
- 2004
- Coffee Gallery Café
- 1995 - 1998
- Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation
- 2000
- Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square
- 2008 - 2013
- Cox Science Museum & Aquarium
- 2019
- Crosspointe Elementary School
- 2006
- Del Prado Elementary School
- 1998
- Delray Beach Cultural Loop / Community Chair Project
- 2000 - 2005
- Delray Beach Cultural Loop / Open Door Project
- 2003 - 2004
- Delray Beach Flower Festival / Millennium Project
- 2000
- Delray Beach Flower Festival / Toussaint L ‘Overture
- 2003
- Delray Full-Service Cente
- 1995 -1996
- Discovery Key Elementary School
- 2005
- Downtown Development Authority of Delray Beach
- 2021
- Eagles Landing Middle School
- 1998
- Environmental Resources Management of Palm Beach
- 1995
- Fire Hydrants of Lake Worth Veterans
- 2007
- First Night Delray Beach Giant Puppets
- 2001- 2014
- First Night Seven Hole Miniature Golf
- 2004- 2006
- Galilee Retirement Village
- 1995
- Gators Galore
- 2012
- Good Samaritan Hospital
- 1995
- Greenacres Elementary School
- 2004
- Hamburger Heaven Clematis Street
- 2012
- Hatch 1121 ~ Trilogy: Art, Architecture & Community
- 2022
- Hidden Oaks Elementary
- 2010
- High Water Line Delray Beach
- 2015
- Home Safe / A Place for Children
- 1996 -1997
- Hotel Biba Showtel
- 2004
- HRS Lobby & HRS Pediatric AIDS
- 1995-1996
- Indian Ridge School
- 2007
- JCC 350 Years of Jewish History in America
- 2004
- JCC Hanukkah-fest
- 2003
- JCC Charlie Brown Theatre Production
- 2003
- JCC Wild Things: A Child’s Right to Read Installation
- 2003
- Jefferson Davis Middle School
- 1995
- Juneteenth! Spady Museum
- 2013 - 2015
- Juvenile Justice of Palm Beach County
- 2013
- Juvenile Justice of Port St. Lucie
- 2008
- Keyes to the Cities, Kretzer Pianos
- 2013
- Lake Worth Middle School
- 2012
- Lake Worth Street Painting
- 1994 - 2010
- Lincoln Elementary School
- 2007
- Loggers Run Middle School
- 2001
- Love’s Drug Building
- 1994
- March of Dimes
- 2009
- Mario’s Market
- 1995
- Morikami Park Elementary School
- 1999
- Nine Arch Murals of Lake Worth
- 2012
- Northmore Elementary School
- 2002
- Norton Museum of Art
- 1999 - 2000
- Odyssey Middle School
- 2001
- Office Depot Corporate Headquarters
- 1998
- Orchard View Elementary School
- 2010
- Osborne Center / For the Children
- 2008 - 2009
- Oscar's Restaurant
- 1990
- Palm Beach County Millennium Council
- 2001
- Palm Beach Gardens Hospital
- 1990
- Palm Beach International Airport
- 1995
- Palm Beach Public School
- 1996
- Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
- 2000 - 2001
- Palm Springs Elementary School
- 1996
- Palm Springs Middle School
- 2007
- Palmetto Elementary School
- 1996
- Parker’s Kitchen Building
- 1995
- Pine Grove Elementary School
- 2014
- Pine Grove School of the Arts
- 1996 - 1997
- Pineapple Grove Archway Base
- 2007
- Plumosa School of the Arts
- 2011 - 2012
- Post Card Murals Sent to the US Troops
- 1991
- Puppetry Art Center of the Palm Beaches
- 2011
- Quest Theatre
- 1990s
- Ranger Construction
- 1990s
- Resource Depot Jell-O Shots!
- 2014
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- 2005
- Roosevelt Middle School
- 2012
- Rosemont Park Words to Live By
- 2007
- Royce Hotel
- 1987
- SD Spady Elementary School
- 1999 - 2001
- Solid Waste Authority Palm Beach County
- 1992
- South Florida Science Museum
- 1992 - 2022
- St. Mary’s Hospital
- 2005
- Sugar Sand Science Park
- 1995
- Sunfest Banner Project Morikami Museum of Art
- 2007
- Sunrise Park Elementary School
- 2002
- Trilogy One Woman Retrospective
- 2022
- U. B Kinsey/Palmview School of the Arts
- 2004
- United Way Day Care
- 1997
- Very Special Arts (Arts4All)
- 1987 - 2024
- Washington Elementary School
- 1997
- West Palm Beach Centennial
- 1994
- Westgate Belvedere Home CRA Totem Sculpture
- 2013
- Westgate CRA
- 2010 - present
- Westward Elementary School
- 2008
- Whispering Pines Elementary School
- 1997
- YMCA of Boca Raton
- 2005