Sarah Johnson-Brown: Sculpting a Life of Art and Authenticity

For Sarah Johnson-Brown, becoming an artist wasn’t a lightning bolt; it was a slow realization, a process of learning how to focus her talents and stay true to her vision. “I always saw things a little differently,” she shares, reflecting on a creative journey shaped by her experiences as a woman, mother, and thinker deeply connected to both the natural world and the social one. Her work spans mediums: wood, bronze, collage, even welding, and always circles back to one guiding principle: authenticity.

 “It’s okay if people don’t always understand or like your work, what matters is being honest in what you create.”- Johnson-Brown

Sarah’s connection to the arts goes all the way back to her youth, when her mother served as Arts Council Director at COACC (Council of the Arts for Clinton County). Her memories are full of gallery openings, artist meet-and-greets, and long evenings spent at her mom’s office. “It was a welcoming place for all artists to share their work,” she recalls. Influenced by the likes of Howard Jennings and Bill Crosby, Sarah helped usher events, hosted visiting artists in her home, and witnessed firsthand how important community support was to keeping the arts alive.

That deep sense of community still fuels her practice. “Staying motivated is a discipline,” she admits, “but I try to carve out time each week to make, research, talk with artists, and remind myself that creating is who I am.” Her creative output is rooted not in the need for validation but in the quiet, persistent drive to make something meaningful, whether others see it or not.

 “Even when it feels insignificant, it matters to me.” - Johnson-Brown

In what she calls her “second act,” Sarah made a bold return to art education, earning a BFA in Sculpture and Photography from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2021. The experience was both personal and profound. It reconnected her with memories of her mother’s work and surrounded her with a new generation of artists and professors who championed growth, collaboration, and care. “It’s a beautiful community,” she shares. “Watching fellow artists grow and encouraging one another through the joys, frustrations, and failures, it’s all part of it.”

One of her proudest moments came recently, when she exhibited a few of her pieces in the Annual Member Show at The Strand Center for the Arts, on her birthday no less. “All four of my kids came, along with my partner and my parents,” she shares. “To see them all, and my work, in that gallery… it’s a vision I’ll never forget.” After years of seeing other artists hang work there, it finally felt like her time.

“Maybe someday I’ll have a solo show there. Full circle. You’ve gotta have goals.” - Johnson-Brown

Sarah Johnson-Brown’s story is a testament to staying grounded, creating with intention, and valuing art as a lifelong, evolving practice. Her journey is as layered as her work organic, textured, and deeply personal. For those who believe in art as a mirror of life, her voice and vision offer something quietly powerful: the courage to grow, to keep going, and to be yourself in every line, layer, and form.

To see some of Sarah’s works and learn more about her visit her site at: https://sarahednabrown.wixsite.com/portfolio/about