We recently had the chance to connect with sara stites and have shared our conversation below.
sara, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Who are you learning from right now?
I have been an artist for my whole life and have faced challenges and joys of self-expression over the years. But over the past two years, attending two different residencies has pushed me to grow in unexpected ways.
Many artists use residencies to finish ongoing projects or prepare for upcoming exhibitions. I chose a different approach: to use the time and space to experiment. Being in a new environment- with a new studio and unfamiliar materials, – encouraged me to take risks. Since I had the privilege of driving, I packed my car with supplies I thought I might want to use. I say “packed”, but in truth I traveled light, bringing only safe, non-toxic materials and just a few brushes and pencils.
My daily practice of filling notebooks with marker drawings continued, but one decision changed everything. I began to draw from the images stored on my phone—not just any images, but the ones I had always avoided using because they felt too goofy, too awkward, or even a bit embarrassing. I realized, by taking this approach, that I had been self-censoring the images I use. This seemingly slight adjustment made a big difference in the work I produced. The new pieces felt more authentic, more direct, and ultimately more powerful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve always been devoted to a kind of artistic honesty – a commitment to making work that answers only to the standards I set for myself and to the artists I most admire: Tiepolo, Manet, Picasso, and others. To me, that has meant that money, popularity, or recognition do not guide my image-making.
In a culture where success is often measured by wealth or visibility, I’ve chosen a different route. While I welcome recognition and the chance to sell my work, they can’t be the reason I make it.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I’ve always believed that art has the power to bring people together. In my own work, I try to make images that speak to the shared experience of being human – the joys, the struggles, the contradictions – rather than to a specific ideology or message.
Too often, art is expected to serve a cause, but I think its truest purpose is more soulful than that. When I’m working, I’m trying to tap into something that connects us all, something that reminds us we’re not separate – from each other or from nature itself.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I think there’s a direct connection between the time I became serious about making art and the year my parents divorced—both happened when I was 13. Immersing myself in drawing became a kind of meditation, a way to step away from the chaos of life and focus on something deeply absorbing. Even now, my studio practice is central to my sense of balance and well-being in the world.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My commitment to my art is also a lesson I hope to pass onto my children and to young artists. I persevere not out of duty or a sense of obligation, but because of the intense pleasure I feel when I’m fully in the flow of making.
My studio is a playground for my mind and spirit. Through my work, I explore the simple and complex act of placing images together, revisiting primal joy and pain, and embracing the sheer fun of being utterly goofy. Making art is, for me, a form of salvation.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am truly doing what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarastites.com
- Instagram: sarastitesartist
- Linkedin: sara stites
- Facebook: sarastitesartist
Image Credits
Starting with top, left:
1. Theo. oil on linen. 30″x30″ 2025
2. Shine oil on linen 60″x60″. 2025
3. Looking back oil on linen 60″x60″ 2025
4. Red flower running oil on linen 30″x30″. 2024
5. Summer oil on linen 42″x42″ 2025
6. Pangea oil on linen. 30″x30″ 2024
7. Blue girl oil on linen 30″x30″ 2024
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
