Two years after joining Gallery MAR, artist Sara Edgar has found her rhythm—and her audience—in Park City. Her newest body of work continues to build on the quietly complex visual language she’s become known for: playful, nostalgic imagery layered with personal symbolism, irony, and thoughtful undercurrents.

“Really, the main point of my work is to connect with people,” Edgar says. “To put those narratives out there that are meaningful to me, and that somebody else is viewing them as meaningful to them. That’s winning for me.”

That connection seems to be resonating. Repeat collectors have become part of her Gallery MAR story, gravitating toward her unique blend of whimsy and wisdom. While her work often draws viewers in with bright palettes and quirky elements—wiener dogs in party hats, poolside scenes, figures in bunny costumes—it also invites a longer look. Beneath the lighthearted surface are layered themes of memory, longing, and the intricacies of human relationships.

“I try to speak clearly within the narratives,” she explains, “but you just never know if they’ll grasp onto something that’s meaningful to them. And when they do, that just brings me joy.”

Among her recurring motifs are tally marks, which she likens to Vanitas symbols in classical painting. “They’re a passing-of-time kind of thing,” she says. “But they’re also like… keeping score in a relationship. So it’s layered—it could be time, it could be emotional history, it could be both.”

The idea of “home” also appears often, both literally and metaphorically. “The house can represent your mind, your emotional being, your relationships,” Edgar says. “I love using it because it’s so flexible.”

Her newest series, featuring postcards, extends that idea further. “You send a postcard when you’re somewhere beautiful, and you wish someone could be with you. So it’s a happy memory, but also a longing,” she explains. “At the same time, I’m using it as a way to talk about being present, in your current space and relationship. That’s where the house symbol kind of comes back in.”

Adding another dimension—literally—is Edgar’s recent dive into sculpture. Returning to her roots in 3D art, she’s begun transforming elements from her paintings into sculptural paper mâché forms. She was inspired by the artist Roberto Benavidez who elevated  piñatas into an art form. “I thought, what if I could elevate paper mâché?” she says. “What if I could bring my symbols out of the canvas into 3D? They feel like they have the same essence as my paintings—elevated, but still kind of naive.”

Despite the often contemplative nature of her themes, Edgar is careful to maintain a balance. “There are serious things in relationships, but I try to balance that out. Like the pool paintings with the dog—pools are a good memory. Dogs are just funny. You don’t need to understand the deeper meaning to enjoy a wiener dog in a party hat.”

Her warmth and openness are echoed in her relationship with the gallery itself. “I’ve felt really supported by everyone at Gallery MAR,” Edgar shares. “That’s been the main takeaway for me—just feeling like part of the chorale of artists here. As an artist, you’re often in your own little bubble, so having that support and that community means so much. I’ve had nothing but positive feelings.”

That spirit—of curiosity, joy, and emotional truth—continues to define Sara Edgar’s work at Gallery MAR. “I think the purpose of my work is to spark curiosity and invite contemplation,” she says. “And I feel like I’m getting that feedback. That’s when I know I’m doing my job.” Find Sara Edgar’s latest curious and contemplative work here at Gallery MAR.

 

---

Written by Veronica Vale

Tags: Gallery MAR art, Gallery MAR artist, Local Artist, Mixed Media Art, Park City Art, Park City Artist, Sara Edgar, Sara Edgar Art, Whimsical Art
Posted in Gallery News