How Artist Sarah Fishbein Turns 1950s Romance Comics into Modern Paintings
Sarah Fishbein is a talented contemporary mosaic artist. In this interview, Sarah shares her creative journey, from her photography and video production background to finding her true love for pop art mosaics. She talks about how the COVID pandemic led her to dive into this colorful art form, combining the classic style of the 1950s and 60s romance comics with modern themes like feminism, empowerment, and LGBTQ acceptance. Throughout the conversation, Sarah reflects on how glass, light, and her personal experiences shape her work, giving us a glimpse into the emotions and stories behind each piece.
Sarah Fishbein is a contemporary mosaic artist based in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. For over 20 years, Fishbein has been a force of innovation in visual imagery. Her journey began with traditional photography and video production forms, but in recent years, her craft has evolved remarkably. Sarah has found her voice in Pop Art Mosaics, blending her respect for pop art with the romance comics and characters of the 1950s and 60s, creating a vibrant, modern pop culture in glass. Her unique approach isn’t just about aesthetics. Fishbein has pioneered a fusion of stained glass and mosaic techniques, crafting pieces that are as technically profound as they are visually captivating. While her works draw from the past, they resonate with contemporary themes—feminism, empowerment, sexuality, and the intricacies of today’s relationships. More than just an artist, Fishbein is a storyteller. Her mosaics, rich with history and current narratives, invite viewers on a journey through time. With two decades of experience and an ever-evolving style, Fishbein continues to shape and redefine the mosaic landscape.
1. What inspired your shift from photography to creating Pop Art mosaics, and how has it influenced your creative process?
My partner and I have owned and operated a video production company together for over 20 years, a journey that has taken me around the globe, filming and interviewing some of the world’s most inspiring change-makers. During the COVID pandemic, our travels stopped, and I channeled my energy into my lifelong passion for creating mosaics. Having worked predominantly in male-dominated fields, my art often embodies themes of women’s empowerment, strength, and courage. Similarly, my experience producing content for the church community has deepened my desire to portray the beauty and complexity of love and relationships within the gay culture and, too often, their lack of acceptance. Each mosaic I create is rich with story and emotion, usually sparkling with vibrant colors. At the same time, carrying an undercurrent of someone striving to break through barriers.
In each piece, I strive to focus on themes that resonate deeply with me – relationships, women’s empowerment, LGBTQ acceptance, and the spectrum of everyday emotions.
Sarah Fishbein
2. What draws you to the imagery and storytelling of 1950s and 60s romance comics in your work?
The romance comics of the 50s and 60s exhibit a classic style and feel that I rarely find in today’s drawing techniques. They were known for their exaggerated emotions and relatable characters, bringing a sense of intense and nostalgic drama. I love to flip the script on traditional values in my art, challenging norms like male dominance or the stereotype of women always pursuing men. This vintage comic style offers a relatability and timelessness that aligns with the vision for my mosaics, as I want my art to remain relevant for years to come, free from the constraints of fleeting trends.
3. How do you incorporate themes like feminism and empowerment into your mosaics while using a nostalgic style?
This nostalgic comic style serves as the perfect starting point for my pieces. There’s a power in combining this familiar, classic look with characters who challenge traditional ideas and values. It creates a striking contrast, drawing viewers in with an expectation of something cliché or lighthearted, only to confront them with more profound, more challenging messages. My characters are beautiful and sparkling, yet they embody real people with complex emotions and fundamental ideas. People often find themselves in my art. My titles and speech bubbles may say something they feel but might not feel free to express. This blend of vintage beauty with bold, unconventional statements challenges our perceptions of what women “should” say or do and may resonate differently with each viewer.
4. How does the interaction of light and glass shape the emotions and stories you aim to convey in your art?
Glass is hard, sharp, and capable of cutting, yet it sparkles and reflects its surroundings. It changes as the sun’s light moves through the day. Glass is vital to the stories I tell through my mosaics, and as the viewer is reflected in each bit of glass, they become part of my art. Glass also possesses a timelessness; traditional mosaics have endured for thousands of years, carrying stories across generations.
My creations are more than just representations; they are stories told through shards of glass, each piece a narrative of emotion, a testament to resilience, and a celebration of diversity.
Sarah Fishbein
“Rage Monster” is a piece that holds deep meaning for me. At the time I was creating it, a family member was facing significant health challenges, and we were caught in a relentless cycle of setbacks, battling insurance issues while my loved one suffered. I wanted to capture the anger women often carry inside but are rarely “allowed” to express openly. The image is bold and proud, with a single teardrop on her cheek, yet her expression radiates confidence and strength. The colors are vibrant and intense, echoing the style of pop art. She silently declares what society tells her to hide: “All I feel is rage!” What surprised me most was how quickly this piece came together—I felt almost possessed, channeling my rage into hers. Ultimately, this work resonated with so many women, striking a chord with those who have felt that same, often unspoken, fury.
6. What advice would you give to women artists looking to find their unique voice or evolve their work?
My biggest advice to women is to create art from your heart and for yourself. Make what you love. It’s easy to get caught up in making things that you know will impress a specific audience or that you think will sell, but in doing so, you limit yourself. In my experience, the mosaics I’ve created in my most vulnerable moments are the ones that resonate most deeply with my collectors
As Sarah Fishbein continues to push the boundaries of mosaic art, her work shows how powerful storytelling can be through visual art. By challenging old ideas and celebrating different experiences, she creates pieces that capture attention and spark important conversations about life’s complexities. To learn more about Sarah, click the following links to visit her profile.
