Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Grote. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Optimism, for me, comes from witnessing creativity in action. especially within the people closest to me. Family, friends, and fellow artists continually remind me that imagination and collaboration are powerful forces. Being part of a community that believes in building, supporting, and creating together makes it easy to remain hopeful about what we can accomplish.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an award-winning photographer, painter, and author in Connecticut. I currently serve as Gallery Director at the Essex Art Association, where I manage exhibitions, artist relations, and public engagement. Most recently, I was elected President of Connecticut Women Artists, Inc., which is one of the country’s oldest women’s art organizations, founded in 1929. I am also the Administrator of the Essex Board of Trade (EssexCT.com), supporting local businesses and promoting community events. My work is currently being shown in the Mattatuck Museum’s MIXMASTER 2026 Juried Members Exhibition, the CAFA+ Members Show at the Westerly Library Hoxie Gallery, the Monastery Gallery’s “Pilgrims of Hope” exhibition, the ALNB Photography Exhibition, and the NLCT Photo Art Show. My latest collaboration is with Ed Lent, the Poet Laureate of Madison & creator of the Ekphrastic Poetry Trust of Connecticut, for our inspired writing workshop, “Art Heals”, at Mercy by the Sea, a retreat and conference center in Madison, CT, on April 19th.
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?
Three things have been most impactful in my journey: curiosity, perseverance, and relationships. Staying curious has helped me evolve creatively and personally. Perseverance taught me that showing up consistently matters more than getting everything right. And building genuine relationships reminded me that meaningful work is almost always collaborative. For those early in their journey, my advice is simple: stay open, stay committed, and find ways to give back to the community.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents gave me was love expressed through creativity. I grew up in a home filled with visual art, music, and the written word, where curiosity was encouraged, and imagination was valued. Trips to museums and libraries weren’t special occasions; they were part of our lives. That environment taught me to see creativity not as something separate from life, but as an essential way of understanding the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahgroteart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgroteart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahgrotephoto
Image Credits:
All photos by Sarah Grote
