Artist Statement

Portrait of African-American man wearing a suit and glasses. His face is half in shadow. The background in turquoise.

I’ve been making assemblages for a long time. At first, they were new materials: a toy soldier adorned with ribbon, lace, and shiny fabric or a painted canvas with new wooden slats like Venetian blinds and old gloves. Then, in 1995, I moved into a house with the T-bars of an old clothesline still standing. I found a large sheet of used plastic and a rusted hoop, made an angelic form, and started my career as a reuse artist.

Now, because of my earnest desire to reduce the environmental and biological harms caused by plastic, I use it and other non-recyclable trash as my medium. My artwork doesn’t solve the problem but calls attention to it. “The Poisoner’s Handbook” by Deborah Blum enumerates the various ways in which poisons were used, some intentionally and some not, in the early 20th century. I’ve wondered, “What are we doing now, unintentionally, that is poison in the early 21st century?” My beautiful artwork shows the horrifying reality that we are poisoning the planet and ourselves.

I bring my social, political, and environmental work and vision to the public through shows in libraries, local art centers, and colleges.

Biography

Sarah Schneiderman began her artistic journey with private painting lessons, ultimately earning a B.F.A. from The Corcoran School of Art and an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts. She attended numerous civil rights protests and anti-war marches throughout her childhood and high school years. These political actions significantly influenced her artistic subject, often addressing environmental, political, and social concerns.

Since 1995, Schneiderman has been committed to creating art from recycled materials, transforming everyday trash into beautiful and thought-provoking pieces. In recent years, she has taken my work outside traditional galleries and exhibited it in public spaces, primarily in public libraries.

She currently splits my time between Connecticut and Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean.

Portrait of Angella Reid, former chief white house usher. Made from buttons and other found objects sewn onto canvas.

Resume

EDUCATION
MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
BFA, Corcoran School of Art, Washington, D.C.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS (2019–2025)

· Red, White, and Bruised: America’s Healthcare and Reproductive Rights, Workshop Gallery, Ball & Socket, Cheshire, CT, 2025

· More Garbage Than Fish, Cheshire Public Library, CT, 2025; Hitchcock Center, MA, 2024; Wethersfield Library, CT, 2023

· You’re Fired! I Quit!, Simsbury Public Library, CT, 2024; Albe Art Gallery (online), 2020; ArtWalk at Hartford Public Library, CT, 2019

· First, Not Last: Portraits, Welles-Turner Library, Newton Free Library, Berlin-Peck Library, CT & MA, 2024

· Breaking Political Barriers, Various CT Libraries, 2023–2022

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS (2020–2025)
· Queering Democracy, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, NY, 2024

· Colors of Courage, WORK_SPACE, Manchester, CT, 2024

· Transformation and Change, The Compass Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2024

· Big Gay Art Show, Sedona Art Center, AZ, 2023

· In the Time of Climate Change, Univ. of Hawaii at Hilo, HI, 2023

· Democracy in Danger, Stola Contemporary, Chicago, IL, 2022

· Undercurrents, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT, 2022

· FEMA: Fear Environmental Mayhem Ahead, Icebox Project Space, Philadelphia, PA, 2020

· Mixmaster, Mattatuck Museum, CT, 2020, 2017

AWARDS

· Best Interpretation of Show Theme, SHOW YOUR PRIDE, 2023

· Alternative Medium Award, CT Women Artists National Show, 2021

· President’s Award, CT Women Artists Online National Show, 2020

· Special Recognition, Light Space & Time 10th Anniversary, 2020

· Honorable Mentions, Multiple Exhibitions (2017–2020)

PUBLICATIONS

· New Haven Independent, “In Ely Center Exhibition…”, 2022

· Record-Journal, Cheshire Citizen, 2020

· The Hartford Courant, 2019

· The Artists Essentials, 2020

· Artist Portfolio Magazine, 2016

· Numerous others from 2015–2020

WORKSHOPS, TALKS & RESIDENCIES

· Trash Art Workshops, Multiple CT Libraries, 2023–2025

· Residency, Foundation House, 2022

· Artist Talks: Ely Center, Kellogg Environmental Center, WCA-DC, 2021–2022

· Residencies and workshops in St. Croix, VT, MA, NY, CT

MEMBERSHIPS

· Signature Member, Arts Center East, Vernon, CT

· Women’s Caucus for Art, Greater Washington, D.C.

· Connecticut Women Artists, Inc., Membership Chair (2018–2019)

· Arts Council of Greater New Haven, CT

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Works held in private collections across the U.S. and Dutch Caribbean, including Wheaton College Permanent Collection, Norton, MA

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Washington, D.C.
Formerly based in Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR
Currently lives and works in Glastonbury, CT and Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean