Unmasking the Artist: A Conversation with Sarah Detweiler
In our latest episode of Art & Cocktails, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Philadelphia-based artist Sarah Detweiler, whose work has captivated audiences with its haunting intimacy, embroidered textures, and deeply personal narratives. Sarah’s creative journey is one of quiet bravery, artistic evolution, and the powerful intersection of motherhood, identity, and self-reclamation.
Over the course of our conversation, we explored how Sarah transitioned from a background in design and art therapy to a thriving fine art career, with sold-out solo exhibitions at Paradigm Gallery and features in major publications like Hi-Fructose, Colossal, Arts to Hearts, and Create! Magazine itself.
Sarah generously opened up about her Hidden Mother series, a body of work inspired by Victorian photography and her own experiences as a new mother. The paintings, often stitched with hand embroidery, evoke the complexity of being seen and unseen—of holding space for both your child and yourself.
Her latest exhibition, Unmasquerade, delves even deeper into personal terrain. After being diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, Sarah began to reflect on the layers of masking she had unconsciously performed throughout her life. Rather than conceal, the new works reveal—through novelty eyewear, maximalist textures, and surreal self-portraits—an artist fully stepping into her own light.
Our conversation moved through vulnerability, reinvention, and the courage it takes to evolve publicly as a creative. We spoke about trusting your instincts, creating in the in-between spaces of motherhood, and finding healing through honest expression.
Sarah's story is not only a reminder of the power of art to process and reveal—it’s also a testament to the role community and connection play in shaping our paths. I’m honored that Create! was part of hers, and I can’t wait for more artists to discover her work through this platform.
About the Artist
Sarah Detweiler is a Philadelphia area-based visual artist translating her lived experiences into figurative and narrative mixed media paintings. She has a BFA in Visual Communications from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute.
Sarah is an award-winning artist who has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions in galleries across the country and virtually. She exhibits regularly at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia, where she has had two sold-out solo exhibitions. Her work has appeared on television and film, clothing, books, album covers, and was even projected onto a building in Times Square, NYC. Sarah has been published in Hi-Fructose, Create!, Arts to Hearts, Visionary Art Collective, Artit, MILKED, and Uppercase magazines, and featured on art blogs including Colossal and The Jealous Curator. She has also been interviewed for multiple art podcasts including Art For Your Ear.
Working from her home studio, Sarah fluidly balances motherhood and her art practice. She pushes beyond the traditional boundaries of painting by integrating embroidery and mixed media materials into works focused on themes of nostalgia, identity, and the quiet complexities of human connection.
Follow Sarah on Instagram: @sdartifacts
Collect artwork through Paradigm Gallery
🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Art & Cocktails or wherever you get your podcasts.
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All images courtesy of Paradigm Gallery
