Sarah Swift

Sarah Swift was born and raised in Exeter, Rhode Island, and moved to Brooklyn, NY to attend the Pratt Institute of Art and Design for Painting and Printmaking. Graduating in 2015 with her BFA, she exhibited work in shows throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and won the Best of Show award at the 2016 Conception Events-TriBeCa Arts Exhibition. Swift has curated several shows in Rhode Island and NYC, and acted as Guest Juror for the Attleborro Museum of the Arts Members Exhibition in 2017. She has been featured in Artscope Magazine, So Rhode Island Magazine, RI-GO Local Live, Root TV, and in several Local papers. She now resides in Exeter, Rhode Island, with her studio in the tower at the Shady Lea Mill artist studios. From 2017 - 2021 she worked as Gallery Director of Hera Gallery in Wakefield RI, and remains an Artist member.

Artist Statement:

My bodies of fiber work explore life cycles within the organic world and our growing disassociation from the Earth. I examine the phenomena of botany and nature in contrast to "what gets left behind" from our human existence. I use recycled and repurposed materials in my work, and source my raw materials like wool yarn and roving from fair-trade cooperatives, second hand stores, and deadstock donations from the fashion industry (which currently creates some of the highest volumes of waste.) I specifically incorporate “problem” materials like plastic bags, drinking straws, fruit netting, plastic wrap, and large scale fabric like bedsheets and old clothing that can no longer be donated.

My goal is to challenge the perceptions of a consumer driven world, and inspire others to be more creative and resourceful with their everyday items. I hope together we can all contribute to the greater conversation of sustainability.