Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Arace.
Hi Sarah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, and I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. Over the years, that creative interest evolved into a career through a mix of formal training, teaching, commissions, and public art.
I studied at SCAD, earned a BA in Media Art and Animation, and later attended a summer intensive in Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida. I’ve also taught art since 2017, which has played a huge role in shaping both my work and my connection to the community.
Today, I’m based in Nashville, where I work in expressive painting, drawing, and live events. Alongside my studio practice, I teach adult classes, create commissioned work, serve as the in-house artist for Puppies and Golf, and participate annually in Franklin’s Main Street Festival. In 2025, I received a Metro Arts grant to lead Seeing HER in Strangers, a workshop centered on identity, connection, and self-perception through art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My path has been shaped by a lot of real-life responsibility—becoming a single mother at a young age, raising my child, and figuring out how to keep creating in the middle of that. There were long periods where art wasn’t something I could fully prioritize, and I had to learn how to stay connected to it in fragments—late nights, early mornings, and whatever time I could protect.
I also didn’t come through a traditional art-world pipeline, so I had to build my practice through teaching, commissions, and steady work rather than clear opportunities or external validation. That came with a lot of uncertainty and moments of questioning whether I was “on the right path” at all.
Over time, I stopped waiting for ideal conditions and started building my work inside the reality of my life. That shift changed how I see myself as an artist.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work across expressive painting, drawing, and large-scale chalk art. My work moves between realism and intuition—sometimes highly detailed, sometimes loose and emotional—but it always centers on people, memory, and lived experience.
I’m known for balancing expressive studio work with technical commissioned pieces, as well as for live chalk art installations like the Main Street Art Festival in Franklin. Teaching is also a major part of my practice. I’ve taught since 2017, and I currently lead adult art classes that focus on process, accessibility, and helping people reconnect with creativity without pressure.
What I’m most proud of is consistency—continuing to build a practice over time without a traditional structure holding it up. I’m also deeply proud of my community-based work, including receiving a Metro Arts grant in 2025 to lead Seeing HER in Strangers, a workshop focused on identity, connection, and self-perception.
What sets my work apart is that it exists fully inside real life. I don’t separate making art from living life—I build them together. That tension between discipline, imperfection, and emotional honesty shows up in everything I make.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like best:
What I love most about Nashville is its creative energy. There’s a strong sense of “people are just doing it”—musicians, artists, small business owners, all building things from the ground up. I also love the community side of it, especially the way local art and teaching opportunities are accessible if you’re willing to show up and be consistent.
What I like least:
What’s harder is the pace of growth and change. Nashville can feel like it’s expanding so quickly that it sometimes loses affordability and accessibility for artists and working creatives. It can also be challenging to find a quiet space to work without pressure or noise from constant development.
Pricing:
- Commissioned artwork: pricing varies based on size, complexity, and medium
- Private lessons / workshops: typically structured per class or series (rates vary by format)
- Group adult classes: offered seasonally, pricing depends on length and materials
- Live chalk art / event work: priced per project depending on scale and location
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saraharace.com/#/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_arace_studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.araceartist
- Other: https://linktr.ee/saraharace?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
