Sarah Fitzgerald is a Sydney based architect, artist and design teacher whose work traverses these disciplines simultaneously. She gained a double degree in Architecture from the University of Sydney (1989-1994), and BFA Honours and an MFA from the National Art School (2011-2017). In conjunction with her arts practice she is also currently teaching at the Sydney Opera House
Sarah’s interdisciplinary art practice is informed by her architectural background and inspired by the ways in which we create a sense of place. Her MFA at the National art school looked at contemporary site-specific art and the connections to architecture. Her work ranges from large scale installation to small and intimate drawing, painting and sculpture. Sarah is interested in the ways in which we inhabit and construct a particular site to create a sense of place. She looks at the natural and urban lansdcape, architecture, structural elements in building, as well as the language used to describe building, as metaphors for social structures. She also looks at the organization of physical space as hegemonic social constructions and uses her work as a means to critique and reflect on issues of place, identity and connection in contemporary society. Through her art practice Sarah continually attempts to see and to describe the way we construct and live in the contemporary world
In her architectural practice Sarah worked on numerous domestic projects where she focused on sustainable design and cultural sensitivity. She is influenced by International Modernism and Japanese design and considers herself lucky to have worked and been educated in Australia where these rich traditions have been influential. She believes in the power of good design and art to improve everyday life. Wherever possible she aims to reuse and recycle materials and work within the footprint of existing structures to improve the way we use and occupy buildings with sensitivity to the social, cultural, and historic, integrity of the site
Sarah has taught art workshops at the National Art School and also in conjunction with certain exhibitions, in drawing, painting, and sculpture. She also teaches art and design workshops at the Sydney Opera house focused on Jorn Utzon's design principles, and is currently involved in the SOH BUILD program for both high school and university students
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2017 Masters of Fine Arts, National Art School
2014 BFA (Hons Painting), National Art School
1997 BArch The University of Sydney
1994 BSc(Arch) The University of Sydney
1991 BA The University of Sydney
Awards
2015 The Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby; Mentoree for the Willoughby Visual Arts Biennial
2014 AGNSW ‘Students Speaks’ Public speaking competition finalist
2013 National Art School, 2013 Painting Department; Residency at The Newington Armory
2013 National Art School, 2013 Art History and Theory Prize
2013 2 Dank Street Award for Art Criticism (finalist)
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Practice and Process- A Sculptors Eye, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga Sydney
2024 Be Water, Airspace Projects, Marrickville Sydney
2024 Factory 49. A Tribute, Articulate Project Space, Marrickville Sydney
2024 HOMEGROWN; A Critical Past, Art Space on the Concourse, Chatswood Sydney
2023 The Temple, Wall Painting Private commission
2022 Le Petit Sculpture, The Quarantine Station North Head, Manly Sydney
2022 Borders, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga Sydney
2022 Cities Foretold, Art Space on the Concourse, Chatswood Sydney
2022 Architecture and Beyond, The Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby Sydney
2021 Les Sculpture Refusées, The Quarantine Station North Head, Manly Sydney
2021 FRACUS, Articulate Project Space, Leichardt Sydney
2020 In Conversation, Articulate Project Space, Leichardt Sydney
2020 Retracing, Art Space on the Concourse, Chatswood Sydney
2020 XROADS, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Camperdown Sydney
2020 OK,OK, Factory 49 Paris, Paris France
2020 AT10- Articulate Turns 10, Articulate Project Space, Leichardt Sydney
2019 O HOUSE Studios Open, for Art Month, Art at Night, Sydney
2019 Connexions Silencieuses, Eygalieres, Provence France
2019 Annual Group Show for Factory 49, Marrickville Sydney
2018 NG Art Creative Residency Studio Exhibition, Eygalieres
2018 FERRET, Articulate Project Space, Marrickville Sydney
2018 Unbounded, Stacks Project Space, Sydney
2017 NAS Postgraduate Exhibition, National Art School, Sydney
2017 Solidarity, Articulate Project Space, Sydney
2017 Annual Group Show for Factory 49, Marrickville, Sydney
2016 ‘Stair’- An outside wall work, for Factory 49, Marrickville, Sydney
2016 TicTac as part of Drawing Conversations, National Art School, the Glassroom
2015 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach, Sydney
2015 Crossing Borders- Boundless Plains, National Art School Project Space, Sydney
2015 Xx, Articulate Project Space, Leichardt Sydney
2015 Taking Up Space, Articulate Project Space, Sydney
2015 Intersections: The Art of Architects, The Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby Sydney
2015 FERAL 5, Articulate Project Space, Leichardt Sydney
2014 The Combine, Studio W, Woolloomooloo, Sydney
2014 The Domestic Space, Stairwell Gallery, National Art School
2013 NAS Drawing Department Selected Work, (The Graduation Show), National Art School
2013 NAS Drawing Week Exhibition: From Field to Folio, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
2013 Back to Paper, Studio W, Woolloomooloo
2013 The Vagina Dialogue, Stairwell Gallery, National Art School