Contemporary abstract fine artist Sara Richardson working on a nature inspired painting in her art studio

Sara Richardson is a contemporary fine artist working across abstract painting, drawing and mixed media. Her practice is organized around distinct bodies of work that examine spatial perception, material force, rhythmic line and the unstable presence of the figure. Through layered surfaces, controlled mark-making and refined compositional tension, she creates works that move between atmosphere and structure, calm and intensity, openness and compression.

Richardson holds a Master of Fine Arts and maintains a disciplined studio practice grounded in material experimentation and formal restraint. Her work is held in public and private collections internationally, has been reproduced for hospitality projects and has been featured in multiple curated collections.

Across her practice, Richardson treats abstraction as a way to build psychological and spatial experiences rather than depict fixed subjects. Her paintings and works on paper are intended as resolved, contemplative works for collectors, designers and spaces where sustained looking matters.



Contemporary artist Sara Richardson

Education

  • Master of Fine Arts, University of Washington
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Kansas
  • Summer Programs, Painting and Sculpture, School of the Art Institute Chicago, Chicago, IL

Awards

  • Springfield Art Museum – cash award
  • Seniors Making Art Dale Chihuly nonprofit organization – mini grant teaching experience
  • Bellevue Arts Museum – honorable mention
  • University of Washington – tuition grant awards, TA grant
  • University of Kansas – honors exhibitions grant awards
  • University of Kansas – purchase award
    (first painting purchased for the university’s permanent collection)

Selected Exhibitions

  • Flora 2024 Women’s Caucus for Art DC , MD – Juried Exhibition
  • Galerie Elektra – Bay Area – ongoing
  • Flora and Fauna 2024, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • February ArtWorks 2024, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • September ArtWorks 2023, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • May All Media 2023, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • April All Media 2023, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • Dark Art ’22, VA – Juried Exhibition
  • 2022-2024 Rise Art – Curated Collections
  • 2016-2024 Saatchi Art – Curated Collections
  • The Artling, Artfinder – Curated Collections
  • Williamsburg Contemporary Art – Juried Exhibition
  • Stryker Center – Group Show
  • Gallerique Chicago Curated Marine Collection
  • Bella Arts, CO – Solo Artist
  • Brokers Building, CA – Group Show
  • 222 Gallery, CA – Juried Exhibition
  • Springfield Art Museum – Juried Exhibition
  • Bellevue Arts Museum – Juried Exhibition
  • University of Washington – MFA Show
  • Various Juried Exhibitions, Kansas City
  •  KU Honors Award Exhibitions

Known Corporate & Design Projects

  • The Westin Washington DC Downtown
  • AC Hotel, San Antonio
  • Marriott Spring Hill Suites, Atlanta
  • Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Carlsbad

Gallery & Organization Affiliations

  • Galerie Elektra – Sausalito, CA
  • Art Works Inc. – Richmond, VA
  • Saatchi Art, Rise Art, Chairish
  • nAscent Art NYC, Eaton Fine Art, Indie Walls