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he Department of Art and Department of Design Convocation will take place at 8 a.m. on April 27 Sarah Roberts did not know if she would remain an art major throughout her college career. She liked to draw and had a talent for it, so she decided to major in art until she was sure it wasn’t right for her. That moment never came.
“My experiences were nothing like I expected, but they were also a lot better than I hoped,” Roberts said. Roberts participated in many projects during her time at BYU that enabled her to grow as an artist and a person. One of her most memorable experiences was going off campus to learn the art of making lace from a professor’s elderly neighbor. “It was pretty magical,” said Roberts. The art major also gave Roberts the opportunity to study abroad in Morocco and Spain, which exposed her to different cultures and expanded her view of the world. Later, she visited Massachusetts and participate in a collaboration with the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. Roberts and her fellow students took part in intensive workshops to explore the relationship between clothing and the Suffragist Movement. Student artwork inspired by the trip will be on display at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. “These traveling experiences made peers and professors into friends and helped me see how art can operate in the world, outside of BYU,” Roberts said. The collaborative nature of the art department is one of the reasons Roberts loved her major. She said, “An art department is naturally full of passionate and diverse people, but I think ours is special because we are all invested in each other’s work and actively help each other succeed. It’s a community.” Roberts hopes the relationships she forged at BYU will remain strong after graduation. Roberts successfully completed her BFA in Art and received an art education licensure. After graduating, she does not plan to slow down. She has a solo exhibition at Finch Lane Gallery on display until June, is currently applying to art teaching positions and is considering attending graduate school in the future. “Things feel really open right now and I like that,” she said. Q&A What did you want to be when you grew up? “I wanted to be an author and illustrate my own books.” Where do you find inspiration? “I keep my eyes open, let my mind wander and spend time with other artists. I don’t really wait for inspiration.” What was the hardest challenge you had to overcome at BYU? “Overcoming anxiety and depression and finding confidence in my personal artwork.” What is your favorite snack? “Between classes, I’ll eat anything. But I did eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich every day at BYU and it always tasted like heaven.”