Sarah Matthews' work reflects her commitment to exploring the complex issues of race, equality, and gender while shining a light on social injustice. She documents the struggles of breaking through barriers in our society through her layered prints and artist books. As an African-American, Mrs. Matthews has experienced firsthand the impact of negative media images that portray her community as inferior. Through her art, she aims to challenge these stereotypes and empower her audience to see all individuals' beauty, intelligence, and importance, regardless of race.
Sarah Matthews is a highly skilled printmaker and book artist with a background in art and business. She holds an MA in Art & the Book from the Corcoran College of Arts and Design at George Washington University, an MBA with a Marketing Concentration, and a BS in Sociology from Bowie State University. Her works have been exhibited internationally and are part of prestigious collections at institutions such as the National Museum of African American History & Culture Library, Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, George Washington University’s Gelman Library, University of Puget Sound, and Samford University. Mrs. Matthews is also a dedicated educator, teaching Artist Books at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and bookbinding and printmaking classes at various art centers and platforms.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
I Am Sarah Matthews, Blackrock Center for the Arts, Kay Gallery, Germantown, MD, May 19 - July 2, 2023
Illuminated, Riverworks Art Center, Riverworks Gallery at Locals, Poolesville, MD, January 2 - February 26, 2023
Illuminated, Christel Dehaan Fine Arts Center Gallery, University of Indianapolis, IN, January 24 – February 18, 2022
EXHIBITIONS
2024 Visionary Women Annual Art Exhibit: Speaking Up Speaking Out, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, March 8-April 5, 2024
About Books: An Exhibition, Not Real Art, Online Exhibition, March 1, 2024
Black Ink: Pop-Up Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Hyattsville, MD, February 24-25, 2024
Black Artists of DC Presents: Back.Forward, Montpelier Arts Center, Main Gallery, Laurel, MD, January 12–February 29, 2024
In This Moment: The Book as Witness, Environmental Design Library, UC Berkeley, California, January 3-March 3, 2024
10 x 10 Invitational Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, December 9–December 24, 2023
WCADC presents Pivotal, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD, November 13, 2023 - January 3, 2024
VOTE: The BADC 3rd Annual Original Art Postcard Fundraiser, STABLE Arts, Washington, DC, November 3 - November 5, 2023
Big & Little Inks, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, October 14–November 26, 2023
Faces & Places, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Sherry Grover Gallery, Bainbridge Island, WA, October 6, 2023 - February 4, 2024
Speedball Printmakers, Iredell Arts Council, Old Jail, Statesville, NC, September 13 - September 29, 2023
Bound and Unbound VII, University Libraries, University of South Dakota, August 21, 2023 - January 3, 2024
SPACE: Known / Unknown, Brentwood Arts Exchange, Lab Gallery, Brentwood, MD, June 26-August 26, 2023
Black Artists of DC (BADC): An Exhibition of 40 BADC Members, The James E. Lewis Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD, June 22- December 8, 2023
FREEDOM, Blackrock Center for the Arts, Gallery II, Germantown, MD, May 19 - July 2, 2023
Noted In COVID: A Celebration of Art Inspired By COVID, Sebrof Forbes Cultural Arts Center, Kensington, MD, March 25 - April 16, 2023
2023 Visionary Women Exhibition, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, March 8 - March 31, 2023
The Cost of Living, Dupont Underground, Washington, DC, March 3 - March 29, 2023
Breaking Ground: Art About The Earth, Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons, MD, February 10 – April 23, 2023
Beyond The Blues, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, February 9 - February 28, 2023
The Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, MI, February 3 – March 24, 2023
New & Nostalgic: Fellows Exhibit, Studio Gallery, Lower-Level Gallery, Washington, DC, February 1 - February 25, 2023
All Members Sculpture Show, Studio Gallery, Upper-Level Gallery, Washington, DC, February 1 - February 25, 2023
10 x 10 Invitational Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, November 19 –December 3, 2022
2022 Faculty Exhibitions, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD, November 17 - December 12, 2022
Baltimore, Addressed: Baker Artist Awards, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD, November 11 — March 12, 2023
2022 Fall Salon Exhibition, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Target Gallery, Alexandria, VA, November 12 – December 11, 2022
2022 MAPC Members’ Juried Exhibition, Kent State University, School of Art, CVA Gallery, Kent, OH, October 11 – November 17, 2022
Pages, Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ, September 9 - October 15, 2022
Fall Exhibit at Bluebird Sky Yoga, Washington, DC, July 29 - October 31, 2022
Muse, All Members Show, Studio Gallery, Washington, DC, July 23 - August 13, 2022
Member Mash-up Show, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Helen C. Frederick Gallery, March 11 - April 17, 2022
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Celebrating the Art of Self Care, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, February 10 - February 28, 2022
The Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, MI, February 4 – March 25, 2022
Identity, Studio Gallery Fellows Show, Studio Gallery, Washington, DC, February 2 - February 26, 2022
10 x 10 Invitational Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, December 4, 2021–January 2, 2022
Studio Gallery Fellows: Autumn Edition, Studio Gallery, Washington, DC, September 1-25, 2021
UNSEEN, 23 Sandy Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico, August 11, 2021 - November 20, 2021
Regional CBAA-Southeast Exhibition, Burroughs Wellcome Gallery (cases), East Carolina University’s School of Art and Design, Greenville, NC, August 1-31, 2021
The Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, MI, April 9 – June 18, 2021
Monumental Makers, A.P.E. Gallery, Northampton, MA, April 3-27, 2021
Letterpress: From Industry to Art, University Art Galleries, University of South Dakota, March 15–April 9, 2021
INK IT: Contemporary Print Practices, BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, February 27 - April 10, 2021
Relief Conspiracy, The Harlow, Hallowell, ME, January 29 - February 27, 2021
Dear Mama - A Virtual Event, Howard County Library System, October 24- December 31, 2020
Mail Art Print 2020, Qu Bi Gallery, Villa Caldogno, Italy, October 3 - October 30, 2020
In Stitches: Contemporary Approaches to Needlework, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, September 23, 2020 - May 8, 2021
Patterning, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, August 8 - September 13, 2020
High (Virtual) Five, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, June 1 - July 29, 2020
10 x 10 Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Hyattsville, MD, November 22, 2019 - January 12, 2020
Erase Hate Through Art, Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park, MD, November 7 - November 26, 2019
Erase Hate Through Art, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, October 6 - October 26, 2019
Big INK Exhibit, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL, September 26 - September 29, 2019
Student/Faculty Exhibition, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, September 12 - September 28, 2019
Protest In Big Print: Corcoran Research Project Exhibit, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, April 25 - August 27, 2019
Intersections, Frederick Book Arts Center, Frederick, MD, July 19, 2019 - May 23, 2020
Big INK Exhibit, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, First Floor Hallway, Annapolis, MD, March 30 - April 26, 2019
Visionary Women: The Journey, Art About Women by Women, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, March 8-March 31, 2019
Big INK Exhibit, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Martino Gallery, Annapolis, MD, March 7 - April 26, 2019
Featured 2D Artist, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, January 2019
10 x 10 Exhibition, Pyramid Atlantic, Hyattsville, MD, December 2018
Singular Sensations, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, December 2018
Student/Faculty Exhibition, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, May 2018
Singular Sensations, Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD, December 2017
BIG INK Exhibit, 3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH, June 2017
NEXT Show, Corcoran School of Arts and Design, George Washington University, April 2016
Gallery 1 Show, A+B Annual Program Exhibition, George Washington University, March 2016
Tyler Gallery, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University, November 2015
Pressing Concerns: Contemporary Issues Expressed in Print and Folio Format, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Rockville, MD, November 2015
FOREVER: The Corcoran 30th Annual Print Portfolio, Corcoran School of Arts & Design, Washington, D.C., August 2015
Hello Hedi!, 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR, June 2015
Woven Words: Poetry, Art, & The Book, Luther W. Brady Gallery, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., April 2015
Paper Window, Luther W. Brady Gallery, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., February 11 - March 20, 2015
A Commemoration of the Civil Rights Movement: 1964-1968, Arts Center/Gallery, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, September 2014
Connections Student Exhibit, Print & Book Forum, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., December 2013
White Walls Gallery, Corcoran College of Art + Design, Washington, D.C., September 2013
Collaborative Artists’ Book (8 artists & 8 poets), Open Studio DC, Washington, D.C., May 2013
The Letterpress Guild of New England 30th Anniversary Poster & Broadside Exhibition, Watertown, MA, September 2012
EXHIBITIONS AS A CURATOR
Live. Life. Alive., Brentwood Arts Exchange, Lab Gallery, Brentwood, MD, November 28, 2022 - January 27, 2023
COLLECTIONS
Smithsonian Libraries, National Museum of African American History Library, Washington, DC
Art Institute of Chicago, Flaxman Library, Artist Book Collection, Chicago, IL
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Cynthia Sears Collection, Bainbridge Island, WA
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT
Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center's Permanent Collection, Washington, DC
California State University East Bay, University Library, Special Collections, Hayward, CA
Emory University, Woodruff Library, Special Collections, Atlanta, Georgia
Gelman Library, Special Collections George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress, Rare Book & Special Collections, Washington, DC
Miami University, King Library, Special Collections, Oxford, OH
Rhode Island School of Design, Fleet Library, Providence, RI
Rising Together Digital Archive Exhibition of Zines, College Book Arts Association, Rochester, NY
Samford University, Special Collections, Birmingham, AL
Savannah College of Art & Design, Jen Library, Special Collections, Savannah, GA
Scripps College, Denison Library, Special Collections, Claremont, CA
Stanford University, Green Library, American History Collection, Stanford, CA
Swarthmore College Libraries, Special Collections, Swarthmore, PA
Temple University, Paley Library, Special Collections, Philadelphia, PA
Tulane University, Howard Tilton Library, Special Collections, New Orleans, LA
University of California Davis, Shields Library, Special Collections, Davis, CA
UCLA, Arts Library, Special Collections, Los Angeles, CA
University of California, Berkley, Environmental Design Library, Berkley, CA
University of California, Santa Cruz, McHenry Library, Special Collections, Santa Cruz, CA
University of Colorado Boulder, Norlin Library, Special Collections, Boulder, CO
University of Connecticut, Dodd Research Center, Special Collections, Storrs, CT
University of Florida, Smathers Library, Special Collections, Gainesville, FL
University of Iowa, Library, Special Collections, Iowa City, IA
University of Louisville, Bridwell Art Library, Artist Book Collection, Louisville, KY
University of Maryland, Literature & Rare Book Collections, Special Collections & University Archives, College Park, MD
University of Maryland, Hornbake Library, Special Collections, College Park, MD
University of Puget Sound, Collins Library, Special Collections, Tacoma, WA
University of Vermont, Bailey/Howe Library, Special Collections, Burlington, VT
Vanderbilt University, Heard Library, Special Collections, Nashville, TN
COLLABORATIONS
Rosy Petri, The People’s Church II: Black MaGes, New York, NY
WORK EXPERIENCE
Manager of Recruitment & Success, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, September 2021 to present
Adjunct Faculty, General Fine Arts, Printmaking, Maryland Institute College of Art, August 2021 to present
Teaching Artist, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, July 2021 to present
Bookbinding Associate, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, January 2020 to September 2021
Director of Education & Development, Frederick Book Arts Center, July 2020 to October 2020
Teaching Artists, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, July 2019 to present
Printmaking/Letterpress Associate, Frederick Book Arts Center, January 2019 to July 2020
Art Instructor, Columbia Art Center, January 2018 to August 2020
Adjunct Faculty, Anne Arundel Community College, Personal Enrichment, October 2017 to January 2020
Adjunct Faculty, Howard Community College, Personal Enrichment, January 2017 to April 2019
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Hamilton Press Museum, 2023 - present
President of College of Book Arts Association, 2022 to present
Marginalia Press Student Organization, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, George Washington University, 2013-2016
American Print History Association Member, 2013 to present
Fine Press Book Association Member, 2013 to present
College of Book Arts Association Member, 2013 to present
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
vonHess Artist Residency, University of Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Feb-Mar 2022
MLK Community Arts Residency, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons, MD, Jan 2022
FELLOWSHIPS
Alma Thomas Fellowship, Studio Gallery, Washington, DC, March 2021 to March 2023
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, 15th Annual Wayzgoose, Twin Rivers, WI, November 3, 2023
Corcoran Professional Development Series, George Washington Univerisity, Washington, DC, March 30, 2022
Artful Conversations, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, March 27 & 29, 2022
vonHess Artist Residency Artist Talk, University of Arts, Philadelphia, PA, March 4, 2022
Virtual Studio Tour, National Museum of Women In The Arts, August 18, 2021
2021 Educator Summer Camp: Flag Books, National Museum of Women In The Arts, July 23, 2021
Art Around the Corner, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, July 21, 2021
Resistance in the Materials: A Gathering of Printers Pressing for Change, Santa Clara University’s Center for Arts and Humanities and the University of Maryland’s BookLab and Center for Literary and Comparative Studies, February 25-26, 2021
Comparison is the Thief of Joy, Creative JumpStart 2021 Panelist, January 29, 2021
Hamilton Hang (via Zoom), Hamilton Wood Type Museum, Two Rivers, WI, November 13, 2020
UIndy Artist Lecture, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, November 9, 2020
Color Conversation (via Zoom), Montserrat College of Art Galleries, Beverly, MA, November 1, 2020
Flag Book Artist Talk (via Zoom), MICA, Baltimore, MD, October 29, 2020
Book Arts Talk & Demo(via Zoom), University of North Texas, October 6, 2020
Flag Book Artist Talk (via Zoom), Brigham Young University, Laie, HI, September 22, 2020
Crafting From Home (online), The Black Love Experience, August 29, 2020
An Upcycled Book (via Zoom), MakeReady 2020, A Symposium for Letterpress Educators, July 20, 2020