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 he raw and spontaneous fine art photography of Sarah Small is receiving increasing attention for its power contrast of dissonance and harmony. Small's work exploits the viewer's expectations by concentrating on disassociated characters and themes. Her works disarm the viewer, leaving them unable to shy away from scenes that are sometimes disturbing in nature.
Sarah Small was born in 1979, in Washington D.C. and studied Fine Art Photography at the Rohde Island School of Design, in Providence. Since graduating in 2001, Small has continued to investigate her fascination with the dichotomous nature of human existence through her fine art series, The Delirium Constructions. Small has recently brought these experiences to life through performance and Tableau Vivant, incorporating models of all descriptions, in various stages of undress.
Small's work has been exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions with venues including the Meat Market Gallery, Washington DC; the Chelsea Museum in New York; and Galerie Caprice Horn in Berlin. She has also recently participated in the Bova Image Festival in Boya, Italy. Small's photographs have been showcased in many international publications including Vogue Magazine; Surface Magazine; Shoot Magazine and the New York Times. She has won numerous photography awards and American Photo Magazine has named her as one of the "Top 13 Emerging Photographers" working today. Sarah Small lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
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Sarah Small
Pappa Sleeping
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Sarah Small: I was born in Washington DC in 1979. My parents are both musicians; my father is a modern pianist and composer and my mother plays Renaissance lute and teaches yoga. I spent most of my high school years photographing my younger sister, Rachel, who is redheaded and freckled. Most of my time after school was spent setting up shoots at home and in friends houses, as well as documenting the people around me. I was almost always equipped with my Pentax K1000.
Art Interview: Did your parents encourage you as a photographer?
Sarah Small: They did, they encouraged me very much. My mother and grandmother were also interested in photography, although they weren't professionals. My parents were professional artists, so they were proactive in involving me in extra curricular photography classes after school, and that definitely helped to engage my passion.
Art Interview: Were your parents surprised by your success?
Sarah Small: I don't think they were surprised exactly. They are certainly extremely proud and supportive. I don't think they know quite what to make of the whole thing. But they're definitely happy, and continually supportive, despite, I think having some level of discomfort with the amount of nudity.
Art Interview: Where did you study photography?
Sarah Small: I studied photography each summer, from seventh grade to the end of high school, at photo-workshops. Then I went on to study at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and graduated with a BFA in 2001. I haven't been to graduate school.
Art Interview: Were you working while you were attending college?
Sarah Small: No, I wasn't. I got a part-merit scholarship to go to RISD. I decided I really wanted to go to college there after doing a pre-college program there during high school. And, much to my parent's dismay, I told them that I was only going to apply to one school, (teenagers!) and if I didn't get in, I wasn't going to go to college. Luckily I got in, and that's where I went.
Art Interview: Did any of the professors at RISD influence you?
Sarah Small: Yes, they did. Two professors who particularly influenced me were Al Decredico and Gary Metz. The funny thing is that I don't remember exactly what was said during class or why they had a particular influence on me - I don't even remember their teaching style so much. I just know that I always left their classrooms feeling inspired, motivated and challenged. Al Decredico was a drawing teacher who let me make photographs for his class. He would then critique them as if he were critiquing drawings, which was really interesting.
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Sarah Small
Do I Become You
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Sarah Small
Laura And Julio
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Art Interview: Were there role models that you were aspiring towards while you were going into art school?
Sarah Small: I imagine I was surely inspired by artwork, although I don't think there were any particular artists that I tried to emulate, or move towards that I can think of. The first artist whose work was inspirational to me was Sally Mann. I got really excited about her "Immediate Family" book when I was a freshman in high school. I realized quickly why I was so drawn to her, stylistically. I did a project early on, as assigned by my high school photo teacher, Karen Keating, in the style of Sally Mann. I was challenged by Karen to exactly replicate a few of Mann's images. In turn, I made the discovery that it isn't possible to copy another photographer's work. No matter how hard I tried, my own style shined through and therefore defined itself. I loved this assignment.
Art Interview: When did you realize that you wanted to become a professional photographer?
Sarah Small: I've known since I was thirteen that I wanted to spend the rest of my life making photographs. Nothing is more fun - it's never felt like work; it always feels like I'm playing. I'm very lucky.
Art Interview: How were you initiated into photography?
Sarah Small: My best friend, Anna Shneiderman showed me how to use a camera while we were at summer camp. I was just elated and since then, I've been making pictures.
That same summer I had one of my first kisses in the camp darkroom with one of my camp crushes. He was fifteen and I was thirteen. I thought he was the hottest thing on earth! So, soon after that I started spending all of my time in the darkroom.
Art Interview: How did you go about building your career?
This oral history transcript is the result of a digitally recorded interview with Sarah Small on January 15, 2010. The interview took place over the telephone between Berlin, Germany and New York, New York, USA. Brendan Davis conducted this interview for Art Interview Online Magazine. Natasha Raphael wrote the introductory text at the beginning of this interview.
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©2004-2012 Art Interview Online Magazine All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used, reproduced, photocopied, transmitted, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of Art Interview Online Magazine. Art Interview Online Magazine is a trademark of Brendan Davis Studios, Berlin, Germany.
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