Sara Baker Michalak

Dunkirk, New York

“I believe that my art is about exploring humanity’s place and responsible action in the natural world. I’m hopeful that viewers of my work will reflect on all that the natural world holds, and our critical role in preserving it.”

Sara Baker Michalak’s abstract collaged works evoke dappled light breaking through a forest canopy, illuminating parts of the natural world while leaving other areas in shadow. Her compositions, colors, and forms (and occasional formlessness) suggest the feeling of the unknown. Combining representational imagery with abstract mark making, she speaks to the subjective and incomplete quality of our perceptions. She reminds us that the mysteries of the natural world are perhaps greater than our current understanding.

In her artistic practice, Baker Michalak’s materials and technique are based largely on exploring options for reducing her carbon footprint. She works primarily in collage, recycling and re-purposing materials that may otherwise be discarded. Her works are lightweight, durable, and flexible, which she achieves by layering and adhering papers or thin fabric. Her intent is twofold: to reduce her own carbon footprint, and to encourage conversation regarding how and why we make art.