{"id":21906,"date":"2025-06-19T12:43:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T12:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/?p=21906"},"modified":"2025-06-24T01:09:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T01:09:19","slug":"sarah-fishbein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/2025\/06\/19\/sarah-fishbein\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarah Fishbein"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"21906\" class=\"elementor elementor-21906\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c11ef94 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c11ef94\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04f5a9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04f5a9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\tYear of birth: 1975.<br>\nWhere do you live: Atlantic Highlands, NJ.<br>\nYour education: Some college \u2013 art and mosaics were all self-taught.<br>\nDescribe your art in three words: Pop Art Mosaics.<br>\nYour discipline: Glass Mosaicist.<br>\n<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sarahfishbeinmosaics.com\">Website<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sarahfishbeinmosaics\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a87a63 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"9a87a63\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-208ee4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"208ee4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-21886 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1050\" height=\"1050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-650x650.jpg 650w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/unnamed-14-1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px\" \/><\/h4><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What first drew you to the medium of glass mosaic, and how did you start incorporating Pop Art influences into it?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I discovered mosaics in my early twenties, having grown up in a crafty household, I dabbled in sewing, painting, and other traditional mediums, but thanks to a rainy weekend, I found myself in a local craft store and I stumbled across a book on mosaics. From the moment I cracked my first tile into tiny shards, I knew I\u2019d found my match.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At first, I started making mosaics, using ceramic tiles, on flower pots, tabletops and any surface I could find. I soon tired of traditional mosaic themes, such as flowers, landscapes or decorative patterns. I was craving something with a bit more edge and energy and that helped me transitioned to glass. The colors were bolder, more vibrant, and had a sparkle that resonated with me.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve always been captivated by Pop Art, often finding myself lost in museum exhibits or art books. I was drawn to the bold lines, the emotional punch, the unapologetic drama the artists were trying to convey.\u00a0 I began to experiment in that direction, creating glass lips and hearts using bright color palettes, and eventually added words. I wanted to say something with my work.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While locked down during COVID, my husband pulled out a stack of old romance comic books he had collected and immediately, it was like everything came together.\u00a0 I realized I could merge emotion with expression\u2014pairing what I was feeling with a look, a phrase, a face and the vivid colors and lines of Pop Art. That\u2019s when I knew I\u2019d found my direction.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your work is heavily inspired by 1950s\u201360s romance comics. What about that era speaks to you emotionally or artistically?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The comics of that time were beautifully drawn and overly dramatic. Over-the-top in the best way. Artists could capture an entire story in just a few panels, expressing everything from heartbreak and longing to joy and resilience. But what I found especially interesting through my research is that many of these stories\u2014centered around women\u2014were actually created by the same men behind Marvel and DC superheroes. So, while the imagery was striking, the narrative and roles were often shaped through a male lens.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That realization made it even more important for me to reclaim and reframe these visuals. I want to flip the script\u2014to tell these stories from the perspective of strong, complex, powerful women. I also weave in themes that never would have appeared in those original comics, like LGBTQ+ representation and characters who defy the era\u2019s gender norms. It\u2019s about honoring the beauty of the past while rewriting it to reflect a more inclusive, honest, and empowered point of view to match my emotions and feelings for today.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want people to see themselves in my mosaics, to feel that the emotions and characters reflect something true in their own lives. That\u2019s why the visual language of this era was the perfect foundation for my work.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21887 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1050\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is-1024x732.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Beauty-Is-600x429.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px\" \/> Sarah Fishbein | Beauty Is&#8230;<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you choose the specific moments or expressions to freeze in your mosaics? Is there a storytelling method behind your compositions?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every mosaic I make starts with a moment from my own life. Before returning to art, I spent years as a video producer\u2014often in male-dominated spaces. Over time, I realized how much silent frustration I was carrying\u2014being talked over, overlooked, and pushed aside. I started keeping a list on my phone\u2014phrases I wished I had said, emotions I was not allowed to express out loud.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those phrase became the foundation of my work. I pair them with bold, expressive faces that mirror what I was feeling. One piece came from a time I was constantly battling doctors and insurance companies. I had so much anger and the phrase \u201cAll I FEEL IS RAGE!\u201d kept repeating in my head. Those words became the basis for a bold, colorful image of a woman with a fierce expression and a single tear. She\u2019s not weak\u2014she\u2019s powerful, even in her sadness.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My mosaics aren\u2019t just about injustice. They\u2019re about real moments\u2014being in love, feeling cheeky, proud, or vulnerable. Sometimes they capture quiet slices of life, like a gay couple deciding what\u2019s for dinner. Not a protest\u2014just presence. Just being. And to me, that\u2019s just as powerful.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you describe your process from idea to finished work? How do you select glass, colors, and layout?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each mosaic I create usually begins with a phrase, an emotion, or a comment that\u2019s been living in my head\u2014something I just can\u2019t shake. From there, I dive into research, often exploring old comics and vintage styles for inspiration. I start collaging and sketching digitally, building a visual that captures the essence of what I\u2019m feeling. Once the concept feels right, I project the sketch onto a hard substrate, tracing the outline to create the foundation of the mosaic.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My process blends stained glass techniques with traditional mosaic methods. I create a custom glass palette\u2014selecting different types of glass for specific effects: mirrored, metallic, and glitter glass to reflect light, and opaque stained glass for outlines and accents. Every color choice is intentional. I want the eyes to shine, the lips to catch the light\u2014while the background and skin tones take on a quieter, supporting role.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the palette is set, I hand-cut each piece of glass, starting with the bold black outlines. I use a combination of stained glass tools, mosaic nippers, saws, and grinders to shape and refine even the most difficult cuts. After outlining, I fill in each section with carefully chosen and cut color pieces, layering emotion and precision into every inch.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final\u2014often overlooked\u2014step is grouting. I hand-dye each grout color to complement the surrounding glass and bring out the vibrancy of every detail. From concept to completion, each mosaic takes around 150 hours of focused, hands-on work.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21888 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1050\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm-300x123.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm-1024x418.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm-768x314.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Comic-eyes-sm-600x245.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px\" \/> Sarah Fishbein | Comic eyes<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your mosaics seem to interact with light in a unique way. How intentional is that aspect of your work?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glass is a wonderfully dynamic medium\u2014it feels like it has a life of its own. As it interacts with light and its surroundings, it almost becomes a character in the piece. My favorite place to hang a mosaic is across from a wall of windows. Throughout the day, something magical happens: in the morning, the artwork might seem calm and quiet, but as the light shifts, it begins to sparkle. A glint in the eye, a shimmer on the lips, a subtle glow in the background\u2014it\u2019s always changing.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My goal is to create work that\u2019s truly interactive, something that never looks exactly the same twice. Every piece of glass I use is carefully chosen with this in mind. The eyes are always the centerpiece\u2014they need to draw you in, to hold your attention. Even the black glass, though it doesn\u2019t shine, plays a vital role. It acts as the structure\u2014the bold lines that bring everything together. Each element serves a purpose, helping the mosaic come alive in whatever space it lives.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What emotional response do you hope to evoke in viewers when they see your work for the first time?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s always fascinating to watch people interact with my work. The first reaction is usually a simple \u201cWow.\u201d The second\u2014almost always\u2014 \u201cHow?\u201d But the moment that stays with me most is when someone steps back, puts a hand to their chest, and you can see they\u2019ve been emotionally moved. That\u2019s when I know the piece has really connected.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I love when people bring their own stories into the mosaic. While my work begins with something personal to me, I\u2019m intentional about leaving space\u2014just enough ambiguity\u2014for others to find their own meaning. What the piece represents to me might be entirely different from what someone else sees, and that\u2019s the beauty of it. It becomes their story too.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-21889 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1050\" height=\"1033\" srcset=\"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025.jpg 1050w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025-300x295.jpg 300w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025-1024x1007.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025-768x756.jpg 768w, https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sarah-Fishbein-Enough-2025-600x590.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px\" \/> Sarah Fishbein | Enough | 2025<\/p><h4 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has your identity or personal life influenced the narratives in your pieces?<\/h4><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My personal life and identity are the foundation of my work. From growing up in a small, blue-collar town in Ohio to navigating a range of jobs and building a career, to marrying my life and business partner and raising our child\u2014each chapter has shaped who I am and the stories I tell through my art. I\u2019m deeply passionate about the resilience of women and the challenges they face every single day. Through my work, I hope to create a world that taps into that inner strength\u2014one that inspires both women and men to push past limitations and step into the fullest version of themselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Year of birth: 1975. Where do you live: Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Your education: Some college \u2013 art and mosaics were all self-taught. Describe your art in three words: Pop Art Mosaics. Your discipline: Glass Mosaicist. Website | Instagram What first drew you to the medium of glass mosaic, and how did you start incorporating Pop [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21906"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22572,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21906\/revisions\/22572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/visualartjournal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}