FeaturedTess Mosko Scherer
artist
Tess Mosko Scherer has had a diverse career in the arts spanning more than 30 years. Her career began as a gallerist, owner and director of Scherer Gallery in 1983 (through 2006) representing international contemporary artists and specializing in glass art. Retiring in 2006, she immersed herself in her studio practice. She has shown in solo, group, and juried shows.
She was the Artistic Director of Shemer Art Center and Museum from 2015-2017. She is the Director of Facilitation and Curriculum for the World Academy for the Future of Women, serves on the advisory board and facilitates programs on leadership in China and Bangladesh. While in China, she facilitated art programs in rural villages. Since 2019, she has served as the Executive Director of the Arizona Art Alliance, mentoring the leadership of Arizona arts organizations. Additionally, hosting exhibitions for their membership and workshops for professional development. She has organized and curated dozens of exhibitions since 2010.
In addition to her studio practice, Mosko Scherer has a private practice coaching and mentoring artists. She is an active member of several art organizations a past member of the Eye Lounge Collective Gallery, is represented by Van Gogh’s Ear Gallery, Prescott, and has won several awards in juried shows in Arizona. Mosko Scherer was named one of the ‘100 Creatives You Need to Know’ by the Phoenix New Times in 2016.
Mosko Scherer is a grant recipient from the City of Phoenix, and the Arizona Commission on the Arts and is the recipient of a research grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study the impact of a leisure arts program on veterans’ cognition, mood and sociability. The two-year study was conducted at Paradise Valley Community College along with co-investigators, David Lloyd Bradley, Dr. Caron Sada and Dr. Lisa Wayman.
In addition to Veterans, Mosko Scherer has worked with varied segments of our community who have experienced trauma. Among the groups she has worked with since 2015 are Survivors of Suicide, young women who have been sexually abused and trafficked, native American Elders and Non-English speaking adult refugees. These diverse groups have differing experiences yet have had positive outcomes participating in group leisure-arts activities.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, Mosko Scherer, along with the NEA grant team, she co-authored a book of art prompts titled “Open Me Up!” This book was created to provide artistic stimulation for veterans, and others experiencing isolation during the pandemic shutdown.
The Gratitude Project sprung from a realization of the sacrifices made by health care workers during the pandemic, and a desire to express gratitude to them. In her role as ED of Arizona Art Alliance, Mosko Scherer solicited donations of 800 6”x6” paintings of flowers from members of the AzAA organizations for distribution to health care workers and health care facilities. Permanent displays of these paintings are at Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix Veterans Hospital, and Paradise Valley Community College. Hundreds have been gifted directly to health care workers.
Mosko Scherer lives in Phoenix with her artist husband. They both maintain studios on their urban farm oasis surrounded by their flock of chickens, gardens, orchard, fish, a cat and a dog.
