Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Roller.
Hi Sara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My artistic journey really started when I was a child. Drawing on the walls, making garden homes for faeries out of moss, I was always curious about finding ways to create something. I attended art classes after school from the ages of 12-19 at the Visual Art Institute, a non profit school in Salt Lake City. It was my first experience being surrounded by artists and creatives in a real community. Primarily studying figure drawing and painting, these observational skills and love for the human form would follow me into my glass career later in life. I met one of my best friends at this school, who I continue to have a strong friendship with today. The mentors that watched me grow up and helped develop my love for creating are still in my life and to them I will always have a deep gratitude.
I am the middle child in a big family, so I suppose I was always trying to find a way to find something that was just mine, using art as a way to express myself and dive into a new world.
In college I was reminded by my mom that I had always wanted to blow glass as a kid. She found a class for me to take at one of the only hot shops around. A studio largely focused on stained glass, they had a very small space for a hot shop. When I saw and touched glass for the first time, I knew that the whole trajectory of my life was about to change. It felt like I had finally come into an ‘aha’ moment about what medium I was meant to be using. The extremely sensory quality that glass has felt like it electrified all my cells and was beaming for me to follow it.
When I desire something and it becomes a vision and goal, I will find a way to make it happen.
I researched how I could make glass my life, understanding that I would need to move or transfer colleges to immerse myself in the material. I found Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, and applied to take classes. To my absolute astonishment I was accepted and would spend a few weeks on the hill working, learning, and creating with other artists. When my courses finished, I decided I wouldn’t enroll in the next semester and instead try to find a job blowing glass. From the connections I made at Pilchuck I found my way to a lighting company that made glass chandeliers. I showed up everyday for a week until they decided to hire me. I met my first mentor Luca Ratazzi there.
Production glass blowing is a dance of perpetual practice. Repetition and consistency are the bread and butter for building skill. After a couple of years I was given the opportunity to work in Los Angeles for a short time where I met Joe Cariati. Joe observed me work and a year later reached out to offer me a job on his team. Luca had retired from glass at this point, and following my job offer from Joe, gifted me all of his glassblowing tools. Being gifted tools is a true honor, and it felt like another sign that I was on the right path.
I’ve been in LA for four years now. Shortly after my move here I started down another journey of making wearable art in borosilicate glass. I’ve traveled to Europe a couple of times over the years to study with multiple artists at the Barcelona Glass Studio – a women dominated studio that serves as a learning and collaborative workspace. Owned and operated by Agustina Ros who’s a big inspiration to me.
I work with glass almost everyday. It is truly my passion and working with this very special material brings a lot of joy and satisfaction into my life. Another aspect that I love about glass is that there is a fair amount of philosophy in glassblowing. Practicing non-attachment, staying present, listening to what the material is telling you. The techniques and methods of working glass are ancient but the love that people all over the world have for this material make it a very wonderful community to be a part of today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path of any artist, creative or entrepreneur is often the bumpier road. My journey with glass is no exception.
Glassblowing is not an easy craft to learn or to break into. Unfortunately it’s not very accessible and due to the nature of the material there is a high cost to practicing consistently. There is a certain amount of grit and tenacity that’s required to make it far in this craft. Although production glassblowing can be psychically very hard on the body and mind, the rapid skills and knowledge I gained while working 40 hour weeks is something I would not trade.
One of my biggest personal struggles has been fighting the feeling that I’m not moving fast enough in my career. A feeling creeps that I should be constantly creating and making power moves equal to the level of my glass colleagues and fellow entrepreneurs. Ambition and drive have gotten me to where I am, but I am also realizing the power in surrendering to the journey. I am shifting from a place of chasing the next thing, to going within and creating; allowing the next thing to be magnetized to me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make and create glass jewelry, and my newest pieces are a series of rings. My goal with wearable art, with glass jewelry, is to create a sense of confidence and joy in the wearer. I want the people who wear my pieces to embrace being bold, being seen, being unique. A piece of jewelry that was born in fire can be a reminder to embrace the fiery qualities within us that can light us up and take us to new places. My desire is to develop relationships with those working in fashion to create wearable glass pieces to be showcased in seasonal collections. Inspiration and absolute dream designers to work with are Issey Miyake, Alexander McQueen, Iris Van Herpen, Yohji Yamamoto, and Vivienne Westwood to name a few.
The glass I make in the hot shop has lately been centered around making pieces with vivid color gradients. I’m highly interested in the concept of chromotherapy, and the potential that color has to affect our body and our mind. I’m using color palettes that speak to my inner world and making pieces meant to feel like portals—objects that invite reflection, connection, and emotional resonance. I want to use the way color, light, and glass play together to change spaces, bringing in a sense of wonder and camaraderie within the human experience.
I’ve had the opportunities in my career to assist in teaching at Penland School of Crafts, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and Pilchuck Glass School.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come in the past 7 years. My path into glassblowing has not always been easy, but the passion I have for the material and dedication to myself has allowed me to find confidence in my abilities to connect, create and build something. I teach glassblowing classes at the Los Angeles Glass Center, make and design my own jewelry and sculptural work, and take on clients with special glass projects.
Sara Roller Atelier is the brand behind who I am. It speaks to all of the facets of my creative brain. I am still in the early stages of my career and look forward to building into myself further and creating a name not just in glass but in the art world overall.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for someone who wants to begin glassblowing would be to find out everything you can about what’s available around you. Find a studio. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it. Getting into a studio consistently is the first step. Whether that’s at school, through a job, or just showing up and building relationships. The internet is a powerful resource that can teach you a lot if you’re willing to learn. Youtube.
As far as pursuing a career in your creative field, I would say that remembering why you love to create is essential. There will be times when life happens and we can forget why we are doing all this work for a small return. Staying focused and dedicated to the vision will keep you on track. Creations that are born from a place of authenticity will speak louder than those that are not. Something circling in my head lately is the concept that audacity beats talent, I like the idea that things don’t have to be perfect before sharing them, sharing the process. We are all in the process of becoming. Lastly that there will always be an ebb and flow with business, inspiration, connections, and the key is to stay grounded and have a knowing that the ebb will end and flow will surely come after.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sararoller.com
- Instagram: @sara_rolleratelier
Image Credits
Beatriz Valim
Vasco Del Rey
