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                                        SARAH WILLIAMS

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is a response to my personal experiences of my home region in the Midwest.  I see life as preparation for the way I paint and the work I am currently making. Even though my connection to the small town farm culture that shaped me as I grew up played a major role in how I approach these works, I believe it can speak to people from a variety of places and experiences.  

My perception of a specific sense of place guides me while these local settings offer abundant material.  Strong emotions can be prompted by a place.  Over time, ways of life shape and define the people and the spaces in which they live.  I am drawn to areas and structures that show character acquired from the history and memory of the people that formed that environment.   

Aesthetically I am interested in light sources and the play of light on surfaces.  This led me to work with nightscapes of familiar yet isolated and unremarkable buildings and scenes located in rural areas close to my home.  I use darkness to edit out extraneous information and provide the viewer with the essence of the place.  This approach applied to slightly familiar yet hauntingly isolated areas permits me to transform the common place and make the insignificant significant.  

I’ve spent the last several years trying to capture rural Midwestern identity in my paintings.  Recently I’ve also become interested in finding ways to give myself a sense of perspective for my understanding of small rural areas in Missouri.  It has occurred to me that embedding myself into other environments is the next step in expanding my work.  I believe that by trying to understand other rural regions of the country in terms of the landscape, the structures and town layouts, I can better see what makes the Midwest unique and “home” for me.  Recently, I had the opportunity to do a residency in Key West, FL. This new body of work is about the similarities and differences between that region and what I recognize as my “home” in Missouri.

I love seeing how people from other regions and backgrounds relate to my work.  I’m finding the more specific I can be, the more universal the work somehow becomes.  I hope my work allows people to think about where they come from and take pride in the collective identity of their home region.

BIOGRAPHY

Sarah Williams received her MFA in 2009 from University of North Texas and has been exhibiting widely across the U.S. She has received many awards, including Purchase Award from UNT's Art in Public Places in 2009 and a Hunting Art Prize Finalist in 2010. She has exhibited and participated in a panel for the Dallas Contemporary’s Here, There & Beyond, and recently completed an artist-in-residence program in Key West. Williams exhibited at the Galveston Arts Center, and had a solo exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in 2010.

RESUME

EDUCATION
2009  MFA in Painting and Drawing, University of North Texas, TX.
2006  BFA in Studio Art, William Woods University, MO.                             

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 Southeast of Home, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2020  Interstate Phantoms, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2020  Twilight Towns, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2020  Off-ramp Communities, Moody Gallery, Dallas, TX
2020  Rural Routes, Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas, TX
2019  Sarah Williams, George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2018  Home-Place, Scarlow’s Gallery, Casper, WY
2018  Every Nowhere, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018  Night Lands, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
2018  Speed Trap Towns, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017  Blanketed, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2017  Unseen America, Moody Gallery, Houston, TX
2017 
Sarah Williams, George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2016  Heartland Round Gallery; Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL
2016 
Area Codes, Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas, TX
2015  Flyover Territory, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2015  City Limits, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2014  Peripheral 36, Sinclair Gallery, Northwest College, Powell, WY
2014  Glow, Mildred Cox Gallery, William Woods University, Fulton, MO
2014  Midwest Noir, Nicolaysen Art Museum, Casper, WY
2013  Blacktop Country, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013  Remote American, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX
2013  30 Miles Between, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX 
2013  Remote American, Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX
2012  County Line, McMurtrey Gallery; Micro Space, Houston, TX
2012  Nightfall, Marty Walker Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011  Outside the County Seat, Galveston Arts Center, Galveston, TX
2011  On the Periphery, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2010  Outskirts, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art, St. Joseph, MO
2010  Population 4,769, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2009  Night Vision, Marty Walker Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009  The Places In Between, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009  Pinned, University of North Texas Union Gallery, Denton, TX

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021  Dreams and Their Edges, Curated by John Seed for “I Like Your Work”; Virtual Exhibition   
2019  Getting Real, Strohl Art Center; Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
2019  Out of Town, Andrea Schwartz Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018  Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2018  Target Texas: What Inspires, Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
2017  Cityscape Show VII, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA    
2017  As Is: Rural Realism, The Grace Museum; Abilene, TX            
2017  Art Palm Spring Fair, George Billis Gallery; Palm Springs, CA            
2016  Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO    
2016  Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Moody Gallery/Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2016  40th Anniversary Exhibition, Moody Gallery, Houston, TX
2016  Palm Springs Art Fair, George Billis Gallery/Palm Springs Art Fair, Palm Springs, CA
2016  Dallas Art Fair, Talley Dunn Gallery/Dallas Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2016  New American Paintings, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
2015 Destination Unknown, Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas, TX
2015 The Real Show, The Old Jail Art Center, Albany, TX
2015  Dallas Art Fair, Talley Dunn Gallery/Dallas Art Fair, Dallas, TX
2015  MSU Biennial Faculty Show, Brick City Gallery; Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
2015  Art Auction 47, Yellowstone Art Museum,  Billings MT; Curator: Eric Wimmer
2014  Wonder Wall, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2014  The Cityscape Show IV, George Billis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014  Homeward Bound: An American Pictorial, Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
2014  Night Music, Trudy Labell Fine Art, Naples, FL
2014  Seven, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2012  Natural Constructed Spaces, The Painting Center, New York, NY. Curated by Mariann Van Lent and Galen Cheney.
2012  Big and Bright: New Work from Texas, Southwestern College Art Gallery at Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA.
2011  Annual Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Brookhaven College Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2011  Hunting Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Friedkin Corporate Gulf of Toyota Exhibition Hall, Houston, TX.
2011  Now. Here. This. 3-Art, Curated online exhibition. Curated by Sara Jones.
2011  Winter Exhibition, PS Gallery, Columbia, MO.
2010  500X Past and Present Member’s, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2010  Annual Faculty and Staff Exhibition, University of North Texas Art Gallery, TX.
2010  Annual Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Brookhaven College Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2010  Biennial Texas/Oklahoma Art Show, Wichita Falls Museum of Art, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX. Curated by Janis Goodman.
2010  HWH, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2009  Back in Red, Group Holiday Exhibition, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX.
2009  Annual Faculty and Staff Exhibition, University of North Texas Art Gallery, Denton, TX.
2009  Graduate Student “Launch Exhibition", Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas Art Lab, Dallas, TX. Curated by Ann Lawrence.
2009  Front Room=Back Room, Marty Walker Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2009  2009 Annual Voertman’s Art Competition , University of North Texas Art Gallery, TX. Curated by John Pomara.
2009  Observation/Insight: Drawing from the Elm Fork Natural Heritage Museum, Eagle Exhibition Hall/ Elm Fork Education Center, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2008  P.A.N.T.S Open, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2008  ArtHouston 2008: Two From UNT, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX.
2008  Current Works by Sarah Williams and Julon Pinkston, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX.
2008  Summer Exhibition, PS Gallery, Columbia, MO.
2008  University of North Texas Graduate Exhibition, University of North Texas Art Gallery, TX.
2008  H2OMG, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, Fort Worth, TX.
2008  Visual Arts Society of Texas 40th Annual, Spring Exhibition, Visual Arts Society, Denton, TX. Curated by Nic Nicosia.
2008  Annual Voertman’s Student Art Competition, University of North Texas Art Gallery, TX
2008  Annual College Art Association Regional MFA Exhibition, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2008  32nd Annual University Union’s Student Art Competition, University of North Texas Union Gallery, TX.
2007  Not To Be Missed By Anyone, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2007  Pocket of Schemes, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2007  Peripheral Vision, University of North Texas Union Gallery, Denton, TX.
2007  Ghost Town Arts Collective, Austin College Ida Green Gallery, Sherman, TX.
2007  Visual Arts Society of Texas 2nd Annual 125 Mile Exhibition, Visual Arts Society, TX.
2007  Paint Trap, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.

PUBLICATIONS
2015  New American Paintings; No 119, Midwest Issue
2011  New American Paintings; No. 96, Western Issue.
2010  Houston Chronicle; p E8, Thursday February 11.
2009  Dallas Modern Luxury Magazine; p 56, December issue.
2008  Houston Chronicle; p E2, Friday August 15.
2008  CAA News; volume 33, number 1, January issue.
2007  Fishwrap; volume 4, number 2, Institute for Small Town Studies; Fairfield, IA.

AWARDS
2015  Willapa Bay AiR Residency, Oysterville, WA
2015  Summer Faculty Fellowship; Missouri State University Springfield, MO
2013  Department of Art and Design Travel Grant; Missouri State University, Springfield, MO
2013  College of Arts and Letters New Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, Missouri State University Springfield, MO
2013  Ucross Foundation Artist Residency Program Participant, Clearmont, WY
2011  Finalist - Hunting Art Prize , Houston, TX.
2010  Summer Residency - Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT.
2010  Artists’ Grant - Vermont Studio Center , Johnson, VT.
2010  Finalist - Hunting Art Prize Finalist, Houston, TX.
2009  Places Purchase Award - University of North Texas Art in Public , Denton, TX.
2009  Outstanding Graduate in Studio Art Award; University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2008  First Place Award, P.A.N.T.S. Open Exhibition, Denton, TX.
2007  Category I Award, Visual Arts Society of Texas 2nd Annual 125 Mile Exhibition Denton, TX.
2005  Craftsmanship and Design Award; William Woods University, Fulton, MO.
2004  Muriel Braeutigam Memorial Prize; St. Louis Artists’ Guild, St. Louis, MO.

ACTIVITIES
2014  Visiting Artist, Northwest College, Powell, WY
2014  Gallery Talk, Northwest College, Powell, WY
2014  Gallery Talk, William Woods University, Fulton, MO
2014  Gallery Talk, Nicolaysen Art Museum, Casper, WY
2013  Gallery Talk, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
2013  Gallery Talk, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2010  Panelist member for the Here. There & Beyond Exhibition, Dallas Contemporary Gallery, Dallas, TX
2010  Gallery Talk; Houston’s Looking At Art Group, McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2009-10Member of 500X Gallery Artist Co-op, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009  Treasurer for 500X Gallery Artist Co-op, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2009  University of North Texas chapter-The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Denton, TX
2008-9 University of North Texas Visual Arts and Design; Design Search Committee Member Denton, TX 
2008  Co-Author of “The Elm Fork Natural Heritage Museum and Introductory Drawing Students: a Cross - Disciplinary Learning Experience” UNT, Denton, TX

CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
2009  Observational/Insight: Drawing from the Elm Fork Natural Heritage Museum, Eagle Exhibition Hall/Elm Fork Center, Denton, TX.
2008  University of North Texas Drawing Core Student Exhibition, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
2008  Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Drawing Event, Denton, TX.
2007  Not To Be Missed By Anyone, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX.


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  • ON VIEW
  • UPCOMING
  • ARTISTS
  • ABOUT