Shaney Fago

I paint what moves me. Whether it’s a face or a figure, I attempt to capture the emotion within me when I paint it. My current work features portraits of pop culture icons but I also do commissioned works. I’m at my most vulnerable but most empowered when I create. I paint to music and it plays a large part in my work. The marks and strokes may be made with brushes or palette knives and blur the line between real and abstract. My work incorporates gesture and texture. What comes out on the canvas or board are the physical expressions of what I’m feeling.

Shaney Sanders Fago was born and raised in the Midwest. She currently lives and works out of her home studio in Marin County, California. Fago uses a blend of bold color, emotional depth, and innovative techniques to craft her paintings. Her influences include a rich, diverse range of artists spanning different time periods, which create a dynamic foundation for her work. Van Gogh is a strong inspiration, while contemporary artists like Warhol and Alice Neel inspire bold experimentation with color, texture, and capturing a vulnerability in her subjects.

Self-taught artist with a Master of Arts in Journalism (Advertising, Marketing and Communications) from the University of Nebraska. Taken several workshops and courses online and in-person from other fine artists.

Harvey Milk Center for the Arts & Photo Center Gallery: Unapologetically Queer Art Show
June 21-July 31, 2025
50 Scott Street
San Francisco, CA


Gallery Sausalito's Biggest Small Works Show
June 1-30, 2025
28 Princess Street
Sausalito, CA

I Heart Art Show
Sponsored by the Women's Art Alliance Show February 8, 2025
Studio Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA