Sarah Detweiler is a visual artist translating her experiences into figurative and narrative paintings. She has found her way back home in the Philadelphia area by way of earning a BFA in Visual Communications from University of Delaware, living in the NY area for 12 years, and earning a master’s degree in art therapy from Pratt.
Sarah is an award-winning artist who has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions in galleries across the country and virtually. Most notably, her “Hidden Mother” series sold out in two exhibitions with Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia. Her work has also been seen on television and film, clothing, books, album covers, and even projected onto a building in Times Square, NYC. Detweiler has been published in Hi-Fructose, Create, Arts to Hearts, Visionary Art Collective, Artit, MILKED, and Uppercase Magazines, and featured on art blogs including Colossal and The Jealous Curator. She has also been interviewed for multiple art podcasts including The Jealous Curator’s podcast, Art For Your Ear.
Sarah Detweiler works out of her home studio undulating between her art practice and motherhood. Since 2016, Sarah has been exploring beyond the traditional boundaries of painting by including various hand embroidery techniques into her work. This allows her to play with the visual levels of the painting beyond the surface while also exploring interdisciplinary techniques. In an age where the accessibility to viewing art online has become oversaturated, Detweiler’s work offers an advantage for those experiencing it in person.
Sarah’s explorative mixed media techniques are woven into the era of becoming a mother. Her work acts as artifacts from this season of life, which is why you may know her by her Instagram handle, @SD_Artifacts. Motherhood, nostalgia, and themes that touch on the universality of the human experience all have significance is Sarah’s work.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue art professionally?
It was a culmination of life moments that led me to the understanding that whatever I did professionally, it would have to be in a creative field. Throughout childhood and adolescence, I received the validation and support I needed to pursue an art major in college. I was blessed with parents who broke the stereotype of parents who discourage their children to go into the arts, by fostering my art and even paying for my higher educations. I never had anyone telling me to find a more “practical” career, but I did start out professionally in advertising/graphic design. I lived many creative lives; graphic designer, t-shirt designer, art therapist, but it wasn’t until I became a stay-at-home mother that I was finally able to pursue my fine art career, which is really what I wanted all along.
Whether fellow artist or friend, who has continued to inspire your work?
I am fortunate to be surrounded and constantly inspired by fellow artists whom I can also call friends. Quite a few are also artists who show with Paradigm, my gallery in Philadelphia, including Katherine Fraser, Kelly Kozma, Sean 9 Lugo, and Crystal Lattimer. I am also constantly inspired by Margaux McCallister, Emily Mullet, Carmen Mardónez, and Amy J. Dyck.
What do you enjoy exploring through your art?
A consistent theme in my work is the notion of concealing to reveal. Because I am primarily a figurative painter, the narrative behind my work is revealed through unwrapping visual details which all act as clues to the message of the piece. When I conceal part of a figure or a face, it becomes about more than the subject in the painting. The viewer needs to view the painting in all its parts to interpret the message for themselves. This is also why I often use other techniques like embroidery to call attention to certain details. I explore themes from my own experience because that is the only way I can be authentic in my work. I find that by doing this, rather than trying to be more universal in my narratives, more people have been able to find their own reflection in my work.
Looking back, what advice do you wish you could give your younger self?
I actually made a postcard series in 2017 titled, “A 20 Day Conversation with My 20 Year Old Self”. Some of my favorites from the series are: “Invest in self-worth”, “Rebel through your art”, “Your most attractive self is your true self.”, and “Be more weird”.
What is one thing you hope your audience walks away with after experiencing/viewing your work?
The most powerful response that I receive from my audience, and really what it is all about for me, is when they have a connection to my work in a soulful way. Being “seen” is so validating and when a viewer feels seen through my work, it then becomes a magical mutual experience.
