Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Shara Hughes studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and later participated in the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She gained significant attention for her approach to landscape painting, which prioritizes emotional resonance and invented topographies over direct observation.

Her work is characterized by the use of bold, saturated color palettes and expressive, gestural brushwork. Hughes often constructs complex, dreamlike environments that challenge the conventions of traditional landscape painting, frequently incorporating interior and exterior elements within a single composition.

She maintains a studio practice in Brooklyn, New York. Her work has been featured in numerous institutional exhibitions and is held in the permanent collections of major museums, reflecting her established position in contemporary painting.