Pleasanton Artist Honored For Local Achievement

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton's Usha Shukla is one of seven artists honored for their achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and residents of Alameda County.

Shukla is a full-time professional artist who works out of her studio in Pleasanton creating vibrant, nature-inspired abstract paintings.

For almost a decade, she has been an active Member of the Pleasanton Art League (PAL) and Livermore Art Association. Since 2016, she has served as a PAL Board Member and as the Chairperson of the PAL Art Circuit, a program which presents artworks by local artists at Pleasanton businesses and other Tri-Valley venues.

Under Usha’s leadership, the Art Circuit has grown and now includes 32 artists exhibiting at eight changing locations.

Usha also serves as the Treasurer of the National League of American Pen Women, Diablo/Alameda Branch. For the last two years, she has served as a juror for the National Congressional High School Art Competition for Congressional District 15, represented by Eric Swalwell.

Her artwork has been featured in solo and group shows at various locations in Alameda County such as Pleasanton’s Firehouse Arts Center and Museum on Main, the Hayward City Hall, and Sun Gallery in Hayward, as well as the Bankhead Theater in Livermore.

Usha completed public art projects for the City of Dublin, the City of Livermore, and the County of Alameda with artworks placed at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.

The award winners will be honored by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors with commendations at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 20. Because of COVID-19, the meeting will be closed to the public, but you may watch it online.

All seven of the recipients selected by the Alameda County Arts Commission for the 2020 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award:

• Jean Marie Durant
• Ron Lytle
• Michael Socrates Moran
• Usha Shukla
• Anuradha Suresh
• The team of Tetiana Taganska and Olga Tymoshchuk