Sage Johnston, an emerging interdisciplinary artist from Grand Rapids, Michigan, specializes in various sculptural techniques, from mold making and casting to ceramics and textile work. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences as a neurodivergent and gender non-conforming individual, his art aims to create immersive experiences that evoke an uncomfortable but important vulnerability. Through his work, Sage advocates for empathy, understanding, and inclusivity, fostering appreciation for diverse identities and expressions.
A recent BFA graduate from Kendall College of Art and Design, Sage currently serves as the Exhibitions Coordinator for ArtPrize, engaging closely with and learning from artists both locally and globally. Unbound by any single artistic expression, Sage embraces diversity in his creations, celebrating the limitless possibilities of contemporary sculpture and welcoming collaborative ideas from his communities.
Artist Statement
It is a privilege to be me.
My meAnimals and the settings I create for them are reflective self-portraits of my experiences through adolescence and into adulthood - an ongoing exploration of self-discovery, growing pains, and the gradual shedding of shame. They are representative of how I experience and fit into the world around me. Over the past couple of years as I’ve developed my meAnimals, they have become more than merely static images but living embodiments of my relationships with my surroundings, evolving alongside me.
I aim for my work to reside comfortably amidst contradiction - vibrant colors and seemingly humorous visuals of humanoid animals that harbor an undercurrent of unease. I seek for those who engage with my work to feel tension and uncertainty but not recoil. My work acts as an invitation to explore the complexities of human emotion while embracing discomfort and vulnerability as a shared experience.
My creative process is a fluid, ongoing exploration of materials and techniques. Unease pervades my journey as an artist, yet it is within this discomfort that I discover motivation, curiosity, and liberation - a space to continuously redefine my artistic identity and embrace the challenge of the unknown.
Ultimately, my art is a labor of love and a ritual of catharsis. It is an invitation to connect, embrace vulnerability, and find companionship in our shared human experience. Through my work, I strike a balance between introspection and expression, inviting my audience to join me on my journey of self-exploration, if only for a moment. Through showing myself authentically, I find peace.
It is a privilege to be me, and a luxury to share myself with others.
CV
Professional Summary
Passionate emerging sculptor specializing in ceramics, body casting, and self-portraits. Experienced in additive and subtractive sculpture, hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramics, mold-making, and casting. Dedicated to advancing artistic exploration through contributing meaningfully to the Grand Rapids arts community and the world of contemporary sculpture.
Education
Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI
BFA Sculpture and Functional Art, with honors
Relevant coursework: subtractive and additive sculptural techniques, body casting, hand-built and wheel-thrown ceramics, welding and soldering, metal casting, printmaking, painting, drawing.
Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, MI
Science and Arts Student
Relevant coursework: 2D Design, 3D Design, hand-built ceramics.
Academic Honors
Dean’s list - fall 2020, spring 2021, fall 2021, spring 2022, fall 2022, spring 2023, fall 2023
Relevant Work Experience
2024 - present
Exhibitions Coordinator
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, MI
2023 - January 2024
Exhibitions Intern
ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, MI
2022 - October 2022
Studio Assistant
Voices 2022 ArtPrize Venue, Grand Rapids, MI
2020 - December 2023
Sculpture Lab Studio Technician
Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, MI
Exhibitions
2024 - Annual Student Showcase, Kendall College of Art and Design
2023 - ArtPrize 2023, S I L V A
2023 - Thesis 1 Exhibition, Kendall College of Art and Design
Publications
2023 - In Photos, What is Contemporary Art, Cultivate Magazine Grade 4-8
Commissions
2023 - Soft sculpture, private client, Traverse City, MI
2022 - Digital display, private client, Grand Rapids, MI
2021 - Soft sculpture, private client, Grand Rapids, MI