Sarah Anne Burns is a Portland artist and Marylhurst University Alumna, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2007 with a focus on drawing and sculpture. She then moved to Philadelphia to attend The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Studying figurative drawing and portraiture; her 2011 Master of Fine Arts thesis body of work explores ideas of femininity, body politics and identity through a series of pastel self-portraits.

Sarah began taking life drawing at a community college while still in high school, and has retained a strong interest in figurative work for her entire artistic career. While attending Marylhurst University, Soft Pastels became the primary drawing medium because of their rich color, soft texture and layering abilities. Self-Portraiture started as a practice in making figurative drawings when a model was not available to work with.

While attending The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia for graduate school, Burns was excited to study academic style, figurative painting from some of the greatest living artists in America. Once she arrived, however; she felt immediately intimidated and out of her comfort zone. Burns had no idea what she should make, or how to start.

Again, she returned to making self-portraits as a way to make work until she thought of a better, more heroic subject. The studio walls were covered from floor to ceiling with her face and body squishing, contorting and gazing out. It became clear that SHE was the main subject of this practice in art.

Regarding her Self-Portraits, Burns says:

“I had to learn to face myself in the mirror, to really look at my body. I would spend all day for weeks on end staring at my naked body in a mirror, trying to be brave enough to make drawings.

I studied archetypes of feminine beauty, religious icons, the great beauties of art history, and feminist texts about radical acceptance of one’s own body. I realized that there is a space within the cultural dialogue of where I have a voice and something real to say, if I was bold enough to speak up.

The practice of drawing myself has become a way to ask questions: To confront the reality of being woman with a fat body in a society that values an archetype of feminine beauty that I will never fit into. It has become a way to claim my body as my own: A body that is beautiful, flawed, decorated and not ashamed.”

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The “Planet” paintings are a departure from Burns’ other bodies of work in medium, subject and scale. Without a dedicated art studio; she makes small-scale, portable paintings in watercolor and metallic ink on paper that can be created wherever work-space can be found.

Burns describes the painting process as little meditative moments: they begin as a circular pool of water and pigment which react on a chemical level, pushing, mixing, staining, granulating, and blooming. Each watercolor is approached as a little science experiment and its inherent qualities inform the next decision made in its creation. These paintings resemble something tiny, cellular, only able to be seen through a microscope: or a massive celestial body floating in the depth of space; so far away that we can only see its hazy form through a telescope.

Sarah Anne Burns

Portland, Oregon
Email: Sarah@SarahAnneBurns.com
www.SarahAnneBurns.com

EDUCATION
2011
Master of Fine Arts Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
2007
Bachelor of Fine Arts Marylhurst University Marylhurst, OR
2001-2003
General Education and Art Lane Community College Eugene, OR

EXHIBITIONS
2015
Solo Exhibition, The Planets. Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR
2014
Au Naturel: The Nude in the 21st Century. Clatsop Community College Art Center Gallery.
Astoria, OR (Juror, Barbara Shaiman)
Four Emerging Artists. In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art. Milwaukie, OR
Solo Exhibition, Inamorata. In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art. Milwaukie, OR
2013
Elle Est. Lane Art Gallery. Portland, OR
2012
Envisioned. Gallery at Michael Ryan Architects. Loveladies, NJ
Marylhurst Alumni Show and Gala. The Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University.
Marylhurst, OR
2011
Audubon Society of Portland Wild Bird Arts Festival 6X6 Project. World Forestry Center.
Portland, OR
Annual Student Exhibition, MFA Final Show. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Philadelphia, PA
Art Party. MBN Studios. Philadelphia, PA
Juried Student Exhibition. Gallery 128, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Philadelphia, PA
Anatomy/Academy Juried Exhibition. Gallery 128, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Philadelphia, PA
2010
10 Emerging Artists. Margot and Camille Gallery. Philadelphia, PA (Co-Curator)
Juried Self-Portrait Exhibition. Gallery 128, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Philadelphia, PA
Marylhurst Alumni Show and Gala. Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University.
Marylhurst, OR
Your Swimming Brain. Fleisher/Ollman Gallery. Philadelphia, PA
Juried Student Exhibition. Gallery 128, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Philadelphia, PA
2009
Icons and Astronauts. Streff Gallery, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR. (Two-Person
exhibition and co-curator)
Art Media Side Window Show. Art Media. Portland, OR. (Three-person exhibition)
Art Media Employee Show. Local Artists Gallery Space. Clackamas, OR
2008
Marylhurst Alumni Show and Gala. Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR
Solo Exhibition, New Drawings. Wholesome Blends Coffee Shop. Portland, OR
Art Media Employee Art 2008. The First Congregational Church. Portland, OR
24: 24 Drawings in 24 Hours. PIP Gallery. Portland, OR
Art Media Side Window Show. Art Media. Portland, OR (Two-person exhibition)
Art Media Employee Show. Local Artists Gallery Space. Clackamas, OR
2007
Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Show. The Art Gym, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR
2006
Thesis Candidates Exhibition. Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR
Annual Student Show. Mayer Gallery, Marylhurst University. Marylhurst, OR

CURATORIAL
2013-2014
Beard’s Framing Local Featured Artist; Lloyd Center Portland, OR
10 Emerging Artists Margot and Camille Gallery, co-Curator Philadelphia, PA
Icons and Astronauts Streff Gallery, two-person show Marylhurst OR
AWARDS
2004-2007
Mayer Art Scholarship Marylhurst University, Three-time recipient Marylhurst, OR

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
2011
Plaster Casting, Josh Kauffman Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
2010
Life Sculpture: Portrait, John Horn Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
Plaster Casting, Josh Kauffman Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
2008
Sculpture II, Stephanie Robison Marylhurst University Marylhurst, OR
Sculpture I, Stephanie Robison Portland State University Portland, OR

ARTS RELATED VOLUNTEERING
2011 The Art Gym at Marylhurst University Marylhurst, OR
Assist the Art Gym Preparator Wendy Given with installation and de-installation of exhibitions.
2010, 2011 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Family Arts and Crafts Day
2010 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia, PA
Annual Student Exhibition, Installation of Art in galleries, and Art Sales at annual gala