Sarah Carrier Capturing The Essence Of Creativity Through Photography

Photo: Sarah Carrier’s work beautifully intertwines storytelling and artistry, capturing the hidden beauty of everyday life with authenticity and depth.

Exploring Personal Spaces And Stories Behind Artists

Sarah Carrier discusses her artistic journey, projects, and the profound connection between personal spaces and creativity in her photography.

Sarah Carrier captivates audiences with her unique approach to photography, skillfully blending personal narrative with artistic expression. Originating from Quebec and blossoming in the vibrant cultures of France, she brings a depth of experience from over a decade in the fashion and music industries, particularly through her pivotal role at Maison Kitsuné. Her transition to full-time photography reflects a profound commitment to storytelling, spotlighting the intimate connections between people and their environments.

In this interview, Carrier shares insights into her current projects, including “Artists at Home” and “A Postcard of Days,” which reveal the subtle beauty of everyday life and the diverse spaces that inspire creativity. Her keen eye captures not only the essence of the artists she features but also the transformative power of personal spaces in nurturing artistic vision. Moreover, her upcoming documentary, “Home Without Walls,” promises to delve into the lives of nomadic communities, exploring their resilience and enduring traditions against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world.

Carrier’s work is a testament to her belief in the power of art as a universal language, transcending borders and cultural differences. As readers will discover, her photography invites us to pause and appreciate the quiet moments that often go unnoticed, urging us to find beauty in our shared humanity. This interview highlights her remarkable journey, artistic philosophy, and the multitude of stories waiting to be told through her lens.

What inspired you to transition from journalism and cultural programming to a full-time focus on photography?

I’ve always been attracted to telling people’s stories, and journalism was my first avenue for sharing these narratives. It allowed me to connect with a wide array of individuals and share their experiences and perspectives. My role as a cultural and lifestyle programmer was a natural extension of this, where I encountered incredible talent across music and, eventually, to a broader creative spectrum. As I traveled through Asia, Europe, and America, capturing the effervescence of the music scene and the vibrancy of each place became instinctive. Photography felt like an obvious transition as it allowed me to continue connecting with creatives worldwide while telling their stories visually and through writing.

“Photography allows me to connect with creatives worldwide while telling their stories visually and through writing.” – Sarah Carrier

Can you describe how your experiences with Maison Kitsuné influenced your approach to capturing portraits and scenes in your photography work?

Working on music programming and later curating gallery exhibitions gave me a deep appreciation for how art, music, and design intersect with people’s lives and spaces. Being immersed in diverse cultural settings, traveling constantly for events and meeting creatives from different fields, taught me to see the nuances that define a place or person, often through their heritage and country’s history. The constant exposure to various environments and creative minds helped me develop an instinct to capture these subtle, often fleeting, details in my work, as I strive to do with authenticity and depth.

Your current project, “Artists at Home,” seems to blend interior design with the creative process. How do you think an artist’s personal space influences their creativity?

Every artist and creative has a unique way of finding inspiration, and often this is deeply intertwined with how they curate their personal space. In Artists at Home, I’ve observed that an artist’s surroundings can act almost like a mood board, full of objects, textures, and colors that resonate with them. These choices reflect not just their aesthetic preferences but also parts of their identity, through heritage, memories, cultural influences, all of which subtly feed into their creative process.

For some, their home is a sanctuary where ideas incubate, while for others, it’s a dynamic space that constantly evolves, mirroring changes in their art. The way they design and arrange their space often reveals as much about their creative vision and personal story, as the art they produce. This connection between personal space and creativity is what I’m capturing in the project, as it highlights how an artist’s surroundings can inspire, inform, and influence their work in profound, often unexpected, ways.

How do you approach photographing artists in their homes, and what do you aim to convey through these images?

I intuitively picked and reach out to an artist because they resonate with me. I never ask them to provide images of their space before the shooting. Instead, as they welcome and guide me through it, I engage with them by asking questions and taking notes. This leads to a more in-depth shooting process, capturing both close-up and wide shots of the elements we’ve discussed.

It is important to me that the project highlights the connection between an artist’s inner world and the physical space they inhabit, how their surroundings are more than just a backdrop for their work, but an integral part of their story and creative process.

You’ve had the opportunity to travel globally and meet creatives from different backgrounds. How has this exposure shaped your artistic style and perspective?

Each place I’ve visited has offered a new lens through which I see the world, whether it’s through the cultural traditions, the architecture, or the way people live. These encounters have expanded my understanding of creativity, showing me that art isn’t confined to one medium or aesthetic; it’s a universal language that takes many forms. Finally, this exposure has encouraged me to cultivate a more authentic and diverse visual language, allowing me to approach my work with greater depth.

What do you hope viewers take away from your “Artists at Home” project, and how do you see this project evolving in the future?

In the future, I envision this project evolving into a book that showcases these stories in a long-form format, blending writing and photography. This will create a more immersive experience, providing viewers to feel a deeper intimacy and connection with the artist’s work, beyond the canvas or medium.