Strength In Shadows: Black + White

Collection: Strength In Shadows: Black + White

This series is a reflection on some of the darkest periods of my life, and the grit and strength I found along the way. Looking back on my experience with depression and anxiety, I wanted to make work that was honest about what that terrain actually feels like, but also about what survives it. The paintings are stark: dark grounds, high contrast, raw gestural marks, with moments of copper and light that hold their ground. They don't soften the experience, but they don't stay in it either. There's a resilience built into the compositions themselves. What surprised me was how many people recognized themselves in this work. The visual language of struggle, the weight, the contrast, the stubborn bits of light, turns out to be widely understood. These paintings are for anyone who has navigated their own dark period and come out the other side knowing themselves a little better.

About the Artist

Sarah Simmerman, an Arizona-based artist, uses her art to explore emotion and growth. Inspired by color's transformative power, she creates abstract works that cascade with vibrant hues that seek quiet under the waves of exuberance. Layering colors and texture, Sarah creates works that are both structured and free flowing, offering catharsis and a reflection of her own introspective journey.

Hailing from Northern Virginia, Sarah honed her artistic skills at the Savannah College of Art & Design, earning her BFA. Sarah has resided in Arizona for the past 15 years and is actively involved with the arts community in the West Valley.

Meet Sarah