Meet Sarah Fishbein

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Fishbein a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

In my late 20s I met a photographer who, a year or so later, would become my life partner. At our first dinner we seemed to talk about everything, but one thing in particular that stayed with me was the suggestion to “Do something everyday that scares you.” Intrigued with that spirit, I wrote the quote in my journal that evening. I wanted to take on that challenge the very next day and I have faced each risk fearlessly with that concept in mind,

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I consider myself a pop art mosaic artist and I am continuously inspired by the romantic comic books of the 1950s and 60s. What captivates me most about this genre is the over-exaggeration of emotions, which I enjoy bringing to life through the intricate medium of glass. My work is an homage to the era’s distinct aesthetic and its powerful narrative style.
In each of my creations, I focus on themes that resonate deeply with me – relationships, women’s empowerment, LGBTQ acceptance and the spectrum of everyday emotions. My art is not just a visual experience; it’s a conversation about the diverse experiences and struggles we face in life.
I constantly push the traditional boundaries of mosaics by adding unique collage elements and graffiti to construct a powerful narrative and I believe that is consistent throughout my work..

I choose glass as my medium for its vivid colors, tactile nature, and longevity. The interplay of light and glass is a crucial element of my work. I carefully select materials that interact with light in a way that allows my mosaics to evolve throughout the day, offering an ever-changing perspective and a new experience with each glance.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

There are three key points that I’ve learned in my artistic journey:
First of all, watch what advice you take and who you take it from. Everyone will have an opinion and feel free to share it with you. I’ve been told “Your prices are too high.” , “Your art is too big, make it smaller.” “No one will understand that, make something different.” I found no shortage of people trying to derail my career.
Second I surround yourself with a network of other (positive) artists and groups of creative people. It takes time to find colleagues you can trust enough to ask their advice.
Take chances! Your own instincts are usually more accurate than other’s opinions. Explore other artist’s work and in that you will find your own style. Make your art as unique as you are. Do something every day that scares you and most of all, don’t give up!

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

The art market is constantly evolving and the ideal location to sell art last year may be totally ineffective today. Things like the election year, a new political administration all affect the the public’s spending habits. The artist must have tenacity and vision to get though these unusual downturns in the market. I feel it is 100% the responsibility of the artist to create a social presence, share their art in front of a buying audience, continue to make new art and work with art consultants if they expect to survive in their chosen field. Their art must stand out above the rest, look different, have a newness or feeling that art buyers will resonate with and the artist needs to share themselves, creating an impression for the world to see. It is important that I remain true to myself and that my work comes from my heart and deep in my soul. I want to create works that people dream about and simply have to have. My biggest, personal challenge is to not to get wrapped up in the the news of the day and to get back to what I love doing the most, which is creating amazing stories in in the form of glass mosaics.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahfishbeinmosaics.com
• Instagram: @sarahfishbeinmosaics
• Facebook: @sarahfishbeinmosaics
• Linkedin: @Sarahfishbein

Image Credits

All photography by Chuck Fishbein