Sara Dare

Sara Dare is a British abstract painter. She works at multiple scales using paper, linen and canvas, with a range of mediums informed by their fluidity including ink, oil, emulsion and acrylic.

Sara’s paintings seek to convey an initial playful interaction with the viewer followed by a sense of unease or tension. Psychologically charged forms push against the edges of the canvas, split open, dangle and protrude. Successes are a balance between discomfort and humour, lure and repulsion and organic and contrived.

The size of work is carefully considered to create the illusion of a physiological space through visual clues and the manipulation of symmetry - a tunnel or an archway - intimate or imposing. There is evidence of Sara’s physical contact and the process behind the work is typically exposed. This touch is often awkwardly just within reach, reducing the capacity for a slick finish or confident gesture and unambiguously hand made. Smaller works emphasise broad movements and allow the viewer to observe the artist-painting relationship more intimately. Sara’s palette reference is broad and instinctive, and colour is manipulated to evoke an emotional response.

We are delighted to represent the painting of Sara Dare exclusively in the Nordics.

Sara Dare Artist Biography

Sara Dare graduated in Fine Art Painting at The University of Brighton in 2008. In 2010 she gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Art and Design and focused on absorbing these methodologies into her approach as a socially engaged artist and collaborator. She recently studied on the Correspondence Course at alternative art school Turps Education.

Selected Exhibitions and Art Fairs

2021 London Art Fair, After Nyne Contemporary, London, UK

2020 Dear Painting, Group show, Nordic Art Agency, Malmo, Sweden

Kite Circus, Group Show, Sidney and Matilda, Sheffield, UK

2019 2022, Group show, Studio 2, The Ark, Bembridge, Isle of Wight

Object Meditation, After Nyne Gallery, London. UK
Putting Ourselves in the Picture, Artist-in-Residence. Fabrica Gallery, Brighton UK Black Stuff, Group exhibition, Unit 3 Projects, ASC Studios. London.
Solo Show, Rye Creative Centre. Rye, East Sussex. UK
Solo Show, Sid Motion Gallery, London.

2018 C’est De La Peinture. Bankley Studios & Gallery, Manchester. UK
Not 30%. Curated by Kate Bryan, The Other Art Fair. Saatchi Art. London. Featured at 100% Design. London Design Festival. Olympia. West Kensington. UK Featured at Decorex International. London Design Festival. Syon Park. UK
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Unit 3 Projects. ASC Studios. London
Third Order. Group exhibition, Unit 3 Projects. ASC Studios. London

2017 The Winter Salon Exhibition. Group exhibition, Rye Creative Centre. Rye. East Sussex. UK Contemporary Painting, The Brick Lane Gallery. London.
The Other Art Fair. Saatchi Art. Arnolfini. Bristol. UK
Quick, Quick, Slow! Solo Exhibition. Colonnade House Gallery. Worthing. Sussex. UK

Press and Acknowledgements

2020 The Commission Project, Artology, Article. https://www.thecommissionproject.com/artology#/sara-dare/ 2018: Living Etc Magazine. Feature in November issue

The Other Art Fair. Press Campaign. Spring 2018

2017 Winner of The Winter Salon Exhibition Selected by Paula MacArthur Contemporary British Painting and Victoria Howarth Jerwood Gallery.

Alongside her practice as an abstract painter, Sara Dare seeks to work on inclusive and educational creative projects with diverse community groups and audiences. She has worked as lead artist and consultant on a broad range of visual arts programmes with organisations in the health and visual arts sector including:

Project Art Works, NHS Partnerships, MK Gallery and Tate Liverpool.