Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Renzi Sanders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents always gave me space to be creative. In my childhood home, we had a sunroom that was mine and my sister’s studio space. My mom always kept art supplies stocked and we were able to play, make messes, and create art. Looking back this is one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me.
Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Sarah Renzi Sanders @sarahrenzistudio on instagram. I am a visual artist living in Kensington, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C. I have been an artist for as long as I remember. Art was really the only thing that came easy to me growing up. I majored in history with a studio art minor and began teaching art in elementary and middle schools right out of college. After 10 years of teaching, and the birth of my third child, I began to carve out more time for my own art practice. As I began creating more work, I started selling on Etsy and at art local fairs. About 6 years ago, I began focusing on creating a meaningful body of work for myself and exhibiting in local shows. I began to branch outside the DC art scene a couple of years ago and have exhibited my work in person in New York, Philadelphia, and along the east coast, as well as in global virtual exhibitions. The more I exhibited, the more I saw the harsh reality of the art world. Women and artists of color are extremely underrepresented in major museums and galleries. Post-covid I decided to open my own gallery with an artist friend, with a focus on changing my little corner of the art world, through highlighting women and underrepresented artists, while making buying art more accessible to my community. Starting my own business, Girls Who Paint Gallery in 2022 has been one of the most rewarding and challenging journeys of my career. Finding time for my own art practice, running a gallery, and being a mother is always a balancing act.
My mixed media paintings would be categorized as surreal and mystical. My art is a reflection of my own healing through nature and meditation. I create paintings that examine life’s duality through spiritual symbolism, while expressing nature as a mirror to the feminine form. I have used my painting practice to heal myself, find my voice, and break the generational silence surrounding the subject of mental illness. In a time when women and the natural world are constantly under threat, I hope to pay homage to their sacredness and intrinsic connection.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative, is watching someone connect to my art in person. Being able to exhibit my art in person again post pandemic has made me more grateful than ever. I believe art can be a bridge that connects humanity across divisions. Viewing and appreciating art in person can heal and deeply nourish one’s soul. There is nothing better than witnessing that experience.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
We are fortunate to live in a time where art is immediately accessible through the internet but this is a double edged sword. Many artists have their work stolen and mass produced without their consent and the majority of people decorate their homes with cheap mass produced prints from Target, rather than with original art. Art is categorized as a luxury item, but there is plenty of affordable art out there! At Girls Who Paint, we try to keep a variety of price points in our shows. Many artists, like myself, sell canvas prints of their work which can be much more affordable than originals. Supporting, sharing, and crediting artists through social media is an easy and free way to support working artists. Buying prints and originals directly from artists and reputable galleries is the best way to support living creatives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahrenzistudio.com
- Instagram: @sarahrenzistudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-renzi-sanders-28b81624/
Image Credits
Jenny Renzi