SARAH KNOUSE

Sarah Knouse is a sculptor, designer, and arts educator. She holds an MFA from Hunter College, and a BFA from Pennsylvania State University; with post-baccalaureate research and teaching work completed at Bucknell University. Sarah has exhibited her sculptures internationally, with one of her most recent sculptural installations hosted by the Hockney Gallery at The Royal College of Fine Art in London. She has also exhibited at the Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, Vox Populi Gallery in Philadelphia, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and has been a featured finalist of the Young Sculptors Competition in Oxford, Ohio in 2009 and again in 2013. Her studio is located in Palm Beach, Fl.

ARTIST STATEMENT
Through my creative practice I explore themes of taste and superficial grandeur as they occur at a domestic scale. My sculptural works harness a type of “collage logic” which I often observe in contemporary interior design that weaves together aesthetic tropes from both current and historic palates. I am intrigued by the relationships that we as individuals establish with our private spaces and possessions. Aside from adding aesthetic appeal, the objects and processes we utilize to embellish our personal spaces allow us to in some ways author our own identities and histories, and even express our economic or social aspirations. I am curious about the place where these constructed ideals and fantasies make contact with real life; and the sense of humor and desire that often accompanies this spectacle. I aim to both celebrate and subvert the role of ornamentation in the domesticated object; to consider its function as a vessel rather than a mere finishing touch.

EDUCATION
2013 MFA: Combined Media, CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY
2010 Post-Baccalaureate Research in Sculpture, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
2006 BFA: Sculpture, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

STUDIO-BASED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
2012 The Royal College of Art, Independent Studio Program in Sculpture, London, UK
2011 Public Art Academy Artist in Residence Program, The Pajama Factory, Williamsport, PA
2009 Summer Studio Program: Sculpture and Extended Media, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

SELECTED RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2015 The Winter Shack, Collaborative Installation Project, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Solo Installation Project: Chaise à Fragonard, Non-profit Arts Gallery of Resource Depot, W. Palm Beach, FL
2013 Young Sculptors Competition, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, OH
Juror: John Hatfield
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Times Square Gallery, Hunter College, New York, NY
Exhibition of New Works, Converge Gallery, Williamsport, PA
2012 New Works, Hockney Gallery, Royal College of Art, London, UK
Frenzy into Folly, Church of Saint Paul, New York, NY
2011 Echo the Elements, Center for Performance Research, Brooklyn, NY
Water, The Grey Gallery, Williamsport, PA
Artists-in-Residence Exhibition, The Pajama Factory, Williamsport, PA
2010 I Speak American, Delaware County Community College Gallery, Media, PA
Fiber Options: Material Explorations, MFA Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD
National Juried Sculpture Exhibition, Marlboro Gallery, Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD
Vox VI, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Bambi Biennial, Bambi Project Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Jurors: Libby Rosof and Roberta Fallon
Beyond Audubon, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
Grad Show 2010, Samek Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Nude 2010, Lexington Art League Project Space, Lexington, KY
Jurors: Boris Zakic and Esther E. Randall
2009 Young Sculptors Competition, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, OH
Jurors: Aris Georgiades and Gail Simpson
Vox V, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Curators: Ryan Trecartin and Larry Mangel
Smash it & Grab it, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Seeking an Impression, Samek Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

PUBLIC LECTURES AND GALLERY TALKS
2012 University of Reading, Reading, UK
Lecture was followed by individual tutorials with undergraduate students pursing research in painting, sculpture, fibers, installation, and video.
The Royal College of Art, London, UK
Lecture open to graduate students and MA faculty concerning the evolution of my artistic practice.
Church of Saint Paul, New York, NY
Public talk on the installation of my sculptural work in this historic church as part of the Frenzy into Folly Exhibition.
2009 Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Participated in public gallery talk with co-curator Larry Mangel, founder of CerealArt.
Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Presented my artwork during a gallery talk which was open to Bucknell’s Academic Community.
2006 Palmer-Lipcon Auditorium, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State University, University Park, PA