Artist Statement

The exploration of identity as a woman entering middle age has emerged as a persistent theme in my work. I have been creating an ongoing series of self-portraits in abandoned buildings since 2007, exploring these concepts in depth. Akin to the stages of grief, I face the idea of aging at first with dread, then resistance, and ultimately acceptance. In my experience, these stages are non-linear. I see myself as an extension of these abandoned spaces, using them as an echo of the push/pull of our identity as we age. I am working towards reclaiming my place in the world and redefining my mid-life as one of transformation rather than crisis.

-Sarah R. Bloom