Sarah Fishbein: Thinking in Glass
Initially rooted in traditional photography and video production, Sarah Fishbein’s artistic journey evolved dramatically when she discovered her niche in Pop Art Mosaics, a fusion that pays homage to pop art while integrating elements from 1950s and 60s romance comics and characters. This synthesis results in a vibrant, contemporary pop culture expressed through glass. Fishbeins's creative process goes beyond mere aesthetics; she has innovatively merged stained glass and mosaic techniques to produce pieces that are both technically sophisticated and visually enthralling. Her artworks not only draw inspiration from the past but also resonate with modern themes such as feminism, empowerment, sexuality, and the complexities of today's relationships.
How did your creative journey begin?
In my early twenties I found an attraction to the bright colorful and tactile nature of mosaics. I first started with heavy ceramics and then began to merge glass into my works. Both my personal and career experiences left some deep-rooted scars and my story telling became more a need to express my inner feels than a hobby. I found my voice in the style of 60s romance comics paired with the thoughts and ideas of today’s women and the ideals of love, LGBTQ and romance.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Each of my works reveals a slice of time and a peek into a part of my story. The basic beauty of a face might be paired with a phrase or idea to make you think, or most importantly, to FEEL. You will always find a woman who has the power within, or perhaps a couple in the middle of an intense moment. You may even find an understanding of someone that you didn’t have before. What I love about work in mosaics is that I get to tell my part of the story in such a way that it can become your story, or a different story for each person that views my work.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
The last few years have worked on honing my crafting of glass, developing new and innovative ways to manipulate the medium and creating bolder stories. One notable difference is the usage of solid pieces of black glass very similar to the outlining in comic pages. My confidence has evolved to a point that I no longer fear how my work will be received yet, the desire to tell more stories through my mosaics has grown ten fold. Now I think in glass, what it does, how it shines, what impact type of impact it will make on the viewer.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
Mosaics, especially the way I create them, requires several processes and that takes time, so each day in the studio may look very different. In the first hour I’ll be preparing my work station, selecting the tools, tiles and glass that I will need for the day. Often, during the next hours I will be manipulating glass by various methods, including glass cutters, grinders, outlining and shaping, utilizing saws, breakers and nippers. I usually do most of my dreaming and sketching at night when the house is quiet and I can reflect on the day behind me. It’s not unusual for me to start with a phrase or idea and then spend the next few hours working out the initial facial expressions on my computer.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
My life experiences as well as the world around me are very much shown in my artwork. I am a feminist, an advocate of the LBGTQ+ community, the owner of a business, as well as a mother and a wife. I like to shape my art in open questions and ideas that the viewer can interpret. My most recent work entitled “Why?” shows a woman smoking a cigarette above a tag line reads, “The World Fears A Strong Women.” She is boldly looking at you and asking ”Why?”. Another piece is named “Violet”, with a speech bubble that reads, “Dogs are so much easier than children?” All of these expressions are pieces of my life and heart.
How has social media impacted your work?
Social media has expanded my audience base greatly. My work has resonated people around the world and that is something that would have been much more difficult and costly in any other medium. At times it feels a bit like feeding a hungry monster and if you miss a meal it will begin to look elsewhere for food.
How does your choice of medium impact your imagery?
Glass is sharp, hard to manipulate, dangerous, and inflexible. We are very much alike. On the flip side glass is glorious in color, shine, sparkle, and reflections. That fits me, too. Glass can have a mirror finish, it can mimic the beautiful depth and luminosity of the iris of an eye or, the glitter and pop of lips and with it, I can create bold colors that are difficult to achieve with paint. Working with glass and its reflective nature allows my art to evolve throughout the day. A mosaic’s eyes may reflect the morning sunrise while her lips catch the glow of the sunset.
Website: www.sarahfishbeinmosaics.com
Instagram: @sarahfishbeinmosaics