Baker Artist Portfolios

Sheila Gaskins is a Teaching Artist,Puppeteer, Activist, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, Arts Advocate, Critical Response Process and Arts-based Civic Dialogue Facilitator,Cultural Worker, Author and Healer.

•  Puppeteer at The Eugene O’Neal Puppetry Conference 2025 where she debuted her shadow puppet piece, My Mother has Dementia.The true story of her mother’s relationship with her black purse; the black purse that swallows everything.
•  Free Fall Baltimore Recipient with a grant for the community to make puppets.
• The film short, My Mother the Clown written and directed by Nia Hampton debuted in The Baltimore International Black Film Festival presented by SOGAA. The film, My Mother The Clown, won the  Audience Award - Narrative Short 2025.MMTC, is the story of 3 generations of Caregivers. Sheila is the Clown and Nia is her daughter.
•  Recipient of The Grit Fund and Alternate Roots Grant for: Puppets, Masks and Crankiest: Shifting the Story. A city wide effort to introduce Puppetry and Puppet making to residents of Baltimore City and surrounding counties.
• Author of her first book of poetry and prose, A Whistling Girl and a Crowing Hen never comes to a very good end and other things my Mama said. Book Club Favorite.
• Her movie / TV credits include: My Mother the Clown, RED Prior, The Corner, The Wire,Homicide:Life on the Streets, BET Comicview,Last Comic Standing & The Salon.

Puppetry is one of the oldest forms of storytelling. Everyone has a story and the world will be  a better place when we all get a chance to hear one another ‘s stories.When Sheila is not creating, she enjoys spending time with family,blowing bubbles and eating Maryland Blue Crabs.