Sadie Monroe Interview: 'Babygirl—A Rite of Passage’
I’m thrilled to relaunch the blog to share a few interviews over the upcoming weeks as we look into some of Domingo’s Fall projects. It’s an absolute pleasure working with such dedicated artists who push boundaries and are committed to bringing their visions to the forefront through hard work. Making opportunities for themselves whether it’s in the traditional gallery setting or in unexpected spaces. I’ve been deeply interested this year in starting art conversations wherever they are welcome and looking to break down the traditional. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to one of these artists.
Meet Sadie Monroe, an interdisciplinary artist whose work examines intricate narratives of identity and self. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Monroe’s artistic journey began in the suburbs of Tennessee, where she navigated the limitations of conventional expectations. She has since forged a distinctive path with her art which speaks to what is, what can be, what will be.
Monroe’s upcoming exhibition, "Babygirl—A Rite of Passage," set to open at Seven House New York this September, reflects her personal journey from girlhood to womanhood. Through her work, Monroe invites viewers to engage with her introspective exploration of gender, identity, and the significant rites of passage that shape our lives. In this interview, Monroe reveals the inspiration behind her exhibition, the creative processes that fuel her work, and her vision for connecting with audiences through her deeply personal art.
Late Bloomer, 2023
Can you share what sparked "Babygirl—A Rite of Passage" and how your journey from the Tennessee suburbs to New York City shaped this project? How do the themes of girlhood, womanhood, and your story come together in this exhibition?
When I first left Tennessee, I didn’t know much and that has to do with being female in the environment I grew up in. Since leaving, I’ve tried a lot of things and worked tirelessly to do them. I’ve also moved around a good bit and have learned several things the hard way. I just now feel like I’m understanding myself, the world around me, and the life I actually want to lead. I’m finding that my life continues to stray further away from how I was taught to be as a woman. It has felt disconcerting and isolating with little guidance or affirmation. However, I know I’m not the only woman or person feeling this way, feeling duped and fatigued but still trying to figure out not only how to get by in a society that feels like it's collapsing but also how to enable myself and others to live more meaningfully. Putting this exhibition together has become an act of creative survival and a calling card to others, with the aim of accelerating dialogue and movements around what it means to live.
Your exhibition is described as both a metaphorical pilgrimage and a visual journal. How do you translate such a personal journey into an experience for your audience? You mentioned an imagined daughter in your artist statement—how does this concept influence the pieces we’ll see in "Babygirl—A Rite of Passage"?
In sharing these works, I want more direct communication with the audience so there’s a stronger likelihood for connection and/or reaction to the dialogue at hand. I decided to make a journal with images of the artworks, a selection of poems I’ve written over the past few years, and notes to my imagined daughter to complete the exhibited artworks. It comes together to form an abstract narrative of my journey that I’m sharing with my daughter as well as the audience. I imagined a daughter because, at my age, I’m supposed to have a kid. But I don’t feel like I’ve had the opportunity to consider that possibility on my own terms. When I think about the frustrations I’ve ensued and lack of insight I had to make my way through, I can only imagine how a child might feel when dealing with what’s ahead in the coming decades. I wanted to write to her, or kids in a larger sense, to share with them what I’ve learned, what the current situation is like and how we got here, but also try to reinforce them to find their own way and show them the creative beauty of doing so. In effect, it also calls upon the current audience, asking, what are we doing? How can we make this better?
Venus Tuxedo #003: Manifest-her, 2024
Your art explores profound questions about what is, what can be, and what will be. How do these philosophical inquiries show up in your artwork?
I can get heavy into researching and wondering how a topic came to be, why it’s the way it is now, and what the future of it looks like. That research and questioning shows up in the concept and inspiration for many of the works. These questions also come up in my approach to creating. Frequently, I find myself asking: what happens if I do this? What about doing that? What if I throw in this variable? Can I push this further? Exploring the unknown to find new possibilities and to create something I couldn't initially envision brings me the kid-like excitement I love but don’t experience often enough in my day-to-day livelihood.
Looking ahead, how do you envision your work evolving? Are there any new themes or mediums you’re excited to explore?
I see myself continuing to intertwine mediums and processes to create pieces. I imagine some of them will be sculptural, hangable and/or wearable. I also see myself continuing painting. I think these explorations will continue to inform each other. As far as themes, I’ve been obsessed with music for a long time, but I don’t know how to make it. I can see myself creating pieces that can make sound through physical touch or movement. With technology and screen staring, I can feel cold and isolated. I’d like to make pieces that bring people more intimately together to create through play.
This is water, 2023
What do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing "Babygirl—A Rite of Passage"? How do you envision them interacting with and interpreting your work?
I hope viewers are able to relate to the art and writing in some way. I hope some of them take some time with the journal I made to reflect upon or respond to it with their own thoughts, writings, actions etcetera.
After visiting the exhibition or reading the journal, I hope a few folks come out of it asking some of the hard, but truth-seeking questions we need to be asking ourselves if we want to give rise to a hopeful, thoughtful future. I’m asking these questions to myself: How can I live to better take care of others? What’s a long-term trajectory for my life that feels feasible, that puts love first and respects its surroundings? Regardless of how that love seems or what that life looks like to conventional society. With the chaos of the world, it can be easy to disassociate from it, to just focus on what we’re doing individually and push our way through. But there’s accountability we need to take if we really want change for ourselves and others. I’m hoping this exhibition starts or continues the thinking and conversations about what people actually value while encouraging them to believe in themselves to create or continue a pathway forward that uplifts that life, even if that path is going into uncharted territory.
This is a joke, 2023
Thank you so much for your time, Sadie! It is such a pleasure to work with you on this exhibition journey and witness your dedication to your practice. I’m inspired by your introspection each time we talk and I can’t wait to see this all come together this September.
Make sure to check out Sadie’s Instagram @sadie_monroe_, where you can also enter to win a printed art journal featuring her writing related to “Babygirl” this week. These are so moving—a big win if you win. Please keep the exhibition dates in your calendar and stay tuned for more!
Babygirl—A Rite of Passage Exhibition Details:
Press Walkthrough: Wednesday, September 18 at 5pm
Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 18 from 6–8pm
Exhibition Hours: Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, September 21, 11am–6pm
Location: Seven House Gallery, 35 Meadow St, Brooklyn, NY 11206