Gwen Shockey was born and raised in central New Jersey to three generations of art-making. She received her B.A. from Connecticut College in 2010 where she exhibited and published her honors thesis entitled, "Styles of the Flesh: Considerations on Body Identity and Representing the Unclothed Woman in Fine Art" (consisting of a written document and body of artwork).

Gwen currently lives in Harlem, NY where she works as a medical illustrator and creates her artwork. Gwen exhibits in galleries nationally and has curated several shows in the New York City area. Her artwork examines subversive sexuality and the politics and psychology of the human body through personal narrative and symbolic imagery. She draws from craft based traditions such as sewing and embroidery as well as printmaking and drawing processes. Currently, Gwen is spending her Fall completing a residency for artists, writers and musicians at "Elsewhere Studios in Paonia, CO.":http://www.elsewherestudios.org/