Painting Through It: The Art of Sherry Mularadelis – Williams

By John Meyer

For more than two decades, Montauk has served as a sanctuary for artist Sherry Mularadelis -Williams, a place where the beauty of the East End meets the emotional landscape of her inner world. Known for her ornately textured abstract landscapes, florals, and reminiscent depictions of power lines, William’s artwork captures the essence of both natural beauty and remembrance.

A lifelong advocate for the healing power of art, Williams has long explored the connection between creativity and emotional wellness. Her background in art,  particularly within educational settings, cultivated nearly a decade of work as a Visual Arts Educator at the Ross School. There, she developed introspective art techniques designed to help students find focus and self-expression through visual language.

“My artwork really captures what we all see here on Long Island, especially in Montauk, the colors and energy that surround us,” she reflects. “Those pinks in the September sky, the blur of trees from a train window, the stillness of the highway… those moments stay with people, even after they leave.”

At the heart of her practice is a deeply personal process. Williams begins each piece with an expressive underpainting, using a hose to spray water across the canvas, allowing to dictate the formation of ripples and tears. These water-marked textures become both a literal and symbolic foundation.

Her work doesn’t just portray the East End; it embodies it. The wide, abstract strokes mirror the emotional vastness of the landscape. “A lot of people love those highway paintings the stretch near my house. I paint what I see, but I also paint what I feel,” she says. “They’re very textured, layered with thick color. Sometimes people compare them to other artists out here, but mine are different. They are extremely emotional.”

Williams doesn’t shy away from the fact that she’s part of a long tradition. “There have been people painting landscapes for a thousand years,” she laughs. “I’m not the first landscape painter. I’m not the first still-life flower painter either. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t paint what I love. I can’t help but be drawn to it.”

In 2024, Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. The experience brought new urgency and meaning to her work. Painting became more than process it became therapy. “Art gave me something to hold onto,” she says.”

As she continues her recovery, Williams often paints outdoors in front of her Montauk home. “People walk by and ask about the work. Sometimes they see something on Facebook and message me later. People remember the colors, and then they reach out to me.”

Sherry resides in Montauk with her two daughters, Madison and Sierra. She raised her daughters here, both of whom inherited her creative spirit.  “They are both amazing artists. One is in acting and performs with South Fork Performing Arts in Southampton”. 

Her life in Montauk, though peaceful in moments, hasn’t been without complexity. “I have a complicated relationship with this place,” she says honestly. “It’s seasonal, it’s expensive but it’s beautiful. I’ve been here for 25 years. I don’t think people choose Montauk. I think Montauk chooses you.”

To purchase Sherry Mularadelis Williams’s artwork,  please email  montaukend@gmail.com

Instagram: @artauk___