Sarah Peoples
American Still Life with buttered toast, apricot, white sand and rock, 2025
Plaster, epoxy clay, ash, bone, resin, glue, paint, sand, found objects
16" x 9.75" x 3.5"

Artist Statement

"American Still Life with buttered toast, apricot, white sand and rock" is part of a larger body of work inspired by Dutch Vanitas Still Life paintings of the 16th and 17th centuries. These historically significant paintings relied on symbolism to serve as a reminder of the transience of life and the importance of leading a virtuous and pious existence. The "American Still Life" sculpture's detailed composition and dedication to realism has a cinematic effect; the top half strives for a manifest destined perfection, while the lower half of the piece depicts decay. Yet, both behold contrary symbols depending on the viewers perspective. An intense preoccupation with symbolism has led to a menagerie of thematic choices such as the two pieces of "toast" being crafted from ash and bone.

Artist Bio

Sculptor Sarah Peoples from Philadelphia makes thought-provoking works and with community involvement. She holds a certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a BS from the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated with a Masters degree from PAFA in 2012. Peoples has exhibited her work in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, including AUTOMAT Collective in Philadelphia, PEEP Space in Tarrytown, NY, and MWoods in Beijing, China, where her work is part of the museum's permanent collection. Her talent was recognized with the 2018 Fleisher Art Memorial Wind Challenge award.

www.sarahpeoples.com

@sarahpeoplesstudio