Sarah is from Los Angeles, California, and is currently based in San Diego, California. She is a multimedia artist who incorporates drawing, 35mm film photography, music, painting, and writing into her practice. Her artwork focuses on the human condition particularly when it comes to mental health and trauma. These subjects are usually represented in an expressionist and surrealist fashion while using nature as a metaphor for the human experience.
EDUCATION
University of California Riverside B.A., Ethnic Studies
September 2011-June 2017 Dean’s Honors List-
Fall 2011 and Fall 2013
Cleveland High School High School Diploma
September 2007- June 2011 Honor Roll
Otis College of Art and Design M.A., Fine Arts
January 2021-May 2021 Did not complete degree
Pasadena City College No major or degree
February 2017-2019
WORK EXPERIENCE
Crew Lead and Seasonal School Portrait Photographer- Gerardy Photography
July 2023-October 2023
Drive company vehicles to deliver the photography team’s equipment
Return equipment to the warehouse at the end of the day and document any issues
Maintain the flow and scheduling of each school's picture day
Maintain good communication with school administrators and teachers throughout the day
Hand out camera cards and maintain proper data collection of each subject's information
Set up and take down all photography equipment
Take a high volume of student's photographs daily (up to 250 students per photographer)
Be able to take consistent, fast, and high-quality photos
Have sharp attention to detail on hair, jewelry, and clothing that needs to be readjusted
Be able to elicit genuine expressions for each photo and to connect with each subject
Visitor Experience Specialist- The New Children’s Museum
May 2022-May 2023
Maintain excellent customer service by answering all guest inquiries in a helpful manner
Set up, take down, and clean each exhibition daily
Maintain the safety of each guest within the space
Interact and spark play with all guests
Assist in art activities for certain exhibitions
Work as a team during load-ins/load-outs of museum furniture for upcoming events
Process daily admissions tickets, memberships, and purchases within the museum store
Co-creator and Featured Artist in Group Show- Home Is…
November 2022-April 2023
Organize a team of artists to create a group exhibition
Brainstorm on how our work connects and to create a common theme
Create artwork for the show
Collaborate as a team to create all aspects of the show
Find and secure the venue
Budget finances
Advertise and market the show on the proper channels
Curate the placement of our work to provide a meaningful flow within the space
Set up and install for the show
Host an opening reception
Speak at our reception
Represent ourselves as a collective and also as individual artists
Maintain a physical presence for each day the show was up
Connect and network with all visiting guests
Host an intimate closing reception to thank everyone who was involved in the creation of our show
De-install the show
Clean up everything with no trace of the show ever being there
Self-Published Co-Author- Labor of Love
March 2022-March 2023
Co-create our book through a long-distance and mainly virtual relationship
Maintain constant communication
Collaborate on drawings and respond to each other’s writing and art prompts
Compile, format, edit, and self-publish our book together
Order the prints
Advertise and market our book for sale
Process the sales and maintain good customer relations
Self-Published Author-Rock of Love
January 2021-December 2021
Travel to Joshua Tree and take photographs on 35mm black and white film
Write a short story in response to my time there and the photographs
Compile, format, edit, and self-publish the book
Order the prints
Advertise and market the book for sale
Process the sales and maintain good customer relations
Gallery Facilitator -Kidspace Children’s Museum
June 2019-January 2020
Encourage and interact with guests during their discoveries throughout the museum
Answer and help redirect all guest inquiry
Lead educational programs such as music time, story time, and animal pop-ups
Facilitate art activities for the museum
Clean and maintain a safe environment for all museum guests
After School Instructor-Team Prime Time
January 2018-April 2018
Ensure the safety and well-being of each student during the program
Build supportive and encouraging relationships with our middle schoolers
Collaborate with team members to facilitate art activities
Help with the student’s homework
Set up and clean up the classroom daily
Camp Counselor-Zimmer Children’s Museum
April 2017-September 2017
Nurture the well-being and safety of each camper
Educate our campers according to the weekly theme
Lead daily art activities
Tend to each child’s needs with patience and understanding
Work as a team in managing the camp day
Set up and clean up for each day
PROFESSIONAL ART EXPERIENCE
Solo Exhibition
A Window Inside, Online Exhibition, The Gallery By MUI, 2022
Group Exhibitions/Featured Work in Group Projects
Free Little Art Gallery Art Swap, San Diego, CA and Sacramento, CA, 2023
Home Is…, 15 The Colonnade, Long Beach, CA, 2023
PILL OW, Art Book, pp.58-59, Rora Blue, 2023
In Spring, Online Exhibition, The Gallery by MUI, 2022
Otis MFA '21 Interviews Book, Otis College of Art and Design, Culver City, CA, 2021
Complete Abundance Vol.2, Digital Zine, The Calm Cool Collective, 2021
Art of Water V, Online Exhibition, James May Gallery, 2021
Garden, Online Exhibition, ArtShare L.A., 2020
MIRROR/IMAGE, Online Exhibition, Riana Gideon, 2020
#ENOUGH, Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum, Silver Lake, CA, 2019
Water, The Southwest Environmental Center, Las Cruces, NM, 2019
Impressions of Life, SK Art Gallery, White Plains, NY, 2019
Project 145, Gallery V, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA, 2018
Traction Ave: Keep Artists in Arts District, 800 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 2017
PUBLICATIONS
“Labor of Love”, Self-Published, 2023
“Rock of Love”, Self-Published, 2021
“Macro Reasons for Micro-Influencers: Contemporary Pawns in the Game of
Capitalism,” Murze Mag, 2019
PRESS
2022 "From One to Another", The Archive
2022 “A Conversation In Solano Canyon: With Sarah Liss,” FAYD
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Member, Southern California Women's Caucus for Art, 2019
University of California Riverside B.A., Ethnic Studies
September 2011-June 2017 Dean’s Honors List-
Fall 2011 and Fall 2013
Cleveland High School High School Diploma
September 2007- June 2011 Honor Roll
Otis College of Art and Design M.A., Fine Arts
January 2021-May 2021 Did not complete degree
Pasadena City College No major or degree
February 2017-2019
WORK EXPERIENCE
Crew Lead and Seasonal School Portrait Photographer- Gerardy Photography
July 2023-October 2023
Drive company vehicles to deliver the photography team’s equipment
Return equipment to the warehouse at the end of the day and document any issues
Maintain the flow and scheduling of each school's picture day
Maintain good communication with school administrators and teachers throughout the day
Hand out camera cards and maintain proper data collection of each subject's information
Set up and take down all photography equipment
Take a high volume of student's photographs daily (up to 250 students per photographer)
Be able to take consistent, fast, and high-quality photos
Have sharp attention to detail on hair, jewelry, and clothing that needs to be readjusted
Be able to elicit genuine expressions for each photo and to connect with each subject
Visitor Experience Specialist- The New Children’s Museum
May 2022-May 2023
Maintain excellent customer service by answering all guest inquiries in a helpful manner
Set up, take down, and clean each exhibition daily
Maintain the safety of each guest within the space
Interact and spark play with all guests
Assist in art activities for certain exhibitions
Work as a team during load-ins/load-outs of museum furniture for upcoming events
Process daily admissions tickets, memberships, and purchases within the museum store
Co-creator and Featured Artist in Group Show- Home Is…
November 2022-April 2023
Organize a team of artists to create a group exhibition
Brainstorm on how our work connects and to create a common theme
Create artwork for the show
Collaborate as a team to create all aspects of the show
Find and secure the venue
Budget finances
Advertise and market the show on the proper channels
Curate the placement of our work to provide a meaningful flow within the space
Set up and install for the show
Host an opening reception
Speak at our reception
Represent ourselves as a collective and also as individual artists
Maintain a physical presence for each day the show was up
Connect and network with all visiting guests
Host an intimate closing reception to thank everyone who was involved in the creation of our show
De-install the show
Clean up everything with no trace of the show ever being there
Self-Published Co-Author- Labor of Love
March 2022-March 2023
Co-create our book through a long-distance and mainly virtual relationship
Maintain constant communication
Collaborate on drawings and respond to each other’s writing and art prompts
Compile, format, edit, and self-publish our book together
Order the prints
Advertise and market our book for sale
Process the sales and maintain good customer relations
Self-Published Author-Rock of Love
January 2021-December 2021
Travel to Joshua Tree and take photographs on 35mm black and white film
Write a short story in response to my time there and the photographs
Compile, format, edit, and self-publish the book
Order the prints
Advertise and market the book for sale
Process the sales and maintain good customer relations
Gallery Facilitator -Kidspace Children’s Museum
June 2019-January 2020
Encourage and interact with guests during their discoveries throughout the museum
Answer and help redirect all guest inquiry
Lead educational programs such as music time, story time, and animal pop-ups
Facilitate art activities for the museum
Clean and maintain a safe environment for all museum guests
After School Instructor-Team Prime Time
January 2018-April 2018
Ensure the safety and well-being of each student during the program
Build supportive and encouraging relationships with our middle schoolers
Collaborate with team members to facilitate art activities
Help with the student’s homework
Set up and clean up the classroom daily
Camp Counselor-Zimmer Children’s Museum
April 2017-September 2017
Nurture the well-being and safety of each camper
Educate our campers according to the weekly theme
Lead daily art activities
Tend to each child’s needs with patience and understanding
Work as a team in managing the camp day
Set up and clean up for each day
PROFESSIONAL ART EXPERIENCE
Solo Exhibition
A Window Inside, Online Exhibition, The Gallery By MUI, 2022
Group Exhibitions/Featured Work in Group Projects
Free Little Art Gallery Art Swap, San Diego, CA and Sacramento, CA, 2023
Home Is…, 15 The Colonnade, Long Beach, CA, 2023
PILL OW, Art Book, pp.58-59, Rora Blue, 2023
In Spring, Online Exhibition, The Gallery by MUI, 2022
Otis MFA '21 Interviews Book, Otis College of Art and Design, Culver City, CA, 2021
Complete Abundance Vol.2, Digital Zine, The Calm Cool Collective, 2021
Art of Water V, Online Exhibition, James May Gallery, 2021
Garden, Online Exhibition, ArtShare L.A., 2020
MIRROR/IMAGE, Online Exhibition, Riana Gideon, 2020
#ENOUGH, Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum, Silver Lake, CA, 2019
Water, The Southwest Environmental Center, Las Cruces, NM, 2019
Impressions of Life, SK Art Gallery, White Plains, NY, 2019
Project 145, Gallery V, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA, 2018
Traction Ave: Keep Artists in Arts District, 800 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 2017
PUBLICATIONS
“Labor of Love”, Self-Published, 2023
“Rock of Love”, Self-Published, 2021
“Macro Reasons for Micro-Influencers: Contemporary Pawns in the Game of
Capitalism,” Murze Mag, 2019
PRESS
2022 "From One to Another", The Archive
2022 “A Conversation In Solano Canyon: With Sarah Liss,” FAYD
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Member, Southern California Women's Caucus for Art, 2019