Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Charlap
Hi Sandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was about 10 years old my family took a trip to Washington D.C. to visit with family friends. This family owned an extensive art collection and the husband gifted me a large, expensive coffee table art book of the collected works of Alexander Calder. This was such a grown up present and I felt privileged with having such a valuable object. I felt in that moment that they saw something in me that I hadn’t yet recognized, and it was important to pass along that gift. I read that book from cover to cover many times over and still have it in my collection. Calder’s work, as well as his passion and curiosity about the world from a visual lens has been profoundly impactful in my formation as an artist. That was the origin point of my life as a visual artist and I began to perceive the world really differently from that point forward.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Every hurdle created opportunity to look at something from a fresh perspective. Instead of letting challenges defeat me, I used them to help me navigate things using another path. I started creating ceramics right after college and found an opportunity to present my work to buyers at Henri Bendel department store in New York City. I was incredibly surprised and excited when they placed a large order and continued to do so from season to season. With that success, it gave me the confidence to approach other similar stores such as Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus and more. Although this story sounds like a great success story, ultimately, the business fell apart because I didn’t have infrastructure to produce large quantities. I sought guidance and mentorship and didn’t find the help I needed. I shuttered that business without a backup plan and it forced me to reassess my skill set and passions and channel it into different opportunities. This story is one of many in my working artistic career where I’ve had to pivot for many reasons. The upside is I always manage to land on my feet.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in using materials to translate my particular visual experiences. I love the challenge of finding new and fresh ways of examining the natural world in color, texture, and viewpoint. For example, I’ve been educated as a painter and I approach my art from a painter’s perspective, however I don’t always use paint as my medium. I might use glass, beads, found objects, and all the materials available in the art supply store. I find that sometimes a single media is not giving me the full language that the art piece needs. I’ll mix materials so that I can clearly express my vision for each piece. I’m known for my use of saturated color and bold forms. I believe the work is identifiable through compositional choices and subject matter. Sometimes its hard to define your own work, however feedback given to me by people who have viewed or purchased the art often tell me that they immediately knew it was mine. I’m most proud of my ability to move fluidly through a variety of materials within a concept. For example, I’ve been working on a series of aerial maps for the past few years and have created work within that theme, utilizing glass, watercolor, acrylic, gold leaf, ink, pastel, and I’m not done yet. I believe what sets me apart from other artists is my curiosity and ability to push the boundaries of the materials I’m using.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
There have been many lessons I’ve learned along the way. I would imagine one of the most important is to stay true to your methods and visions and not let the outside world and opinions impact your self confidence. When applying for exhibits and shows, you will experience more rejections than acceptances and that’s fine. We can’t predict the vision of the curator or gallerists who say no. Just know that there will be a fit that’s right and to persevere. Creating the work is the most important part of this journey, as well as the most fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandracharlap.com
- Instagram: @sandra_charlap
- Facebook: @sandra levine-Charlap
