Shawn Vales holds aBFA and an MFA from the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. During undergrad he developed a strong foundation in the fundamentals of representational art. With a strong skill set he began developing more personal approaches to creative expression by engaging abstract painting during his MFA program. Shawn developed a process and a visual language through practice of self- awareness and heightened sensitivity to his intuition.

His paintings combine the visceral quality of abstract expressionist action-painting with an intellectual undertone similar to a surrealist painting. His work his evocative and intriguing. While viewing one of Shawn's paintings one is likely to be reminded of nature through visual elements, color schemes as well as the activity and energy of the work. There is a metaphysical aspect suggested through various forms within subtle paradox. For example, gravity may be defied by floating forms and orientation can be challenging to figure out.

Shawn creates works that allow the mind to escape into an imaginative and potentially spiritual realm.