painting & sculpture · mount vernon, washington
Surrealist, Abstract, Photorealistic - Visual Artist
53 pieces · click any image to enlarge
Artist statement
Denby grew up and remains in the Pacific Northwest among her family, friends, animals, and paintbrushes. Her work often takes the form of colorful portraiture, sometimes with surreal undertones. These works examine the human condition through textures, colors, and expressions.
She may build up and tear down re-purposed and reworked surfaces with acrylic, spray paint, graphite or Sharpie until a history is established and a story begins to form. Then the inhabitants of these spaces often appear serendipitously through her processes, or referenced from old photos.
Denby's themes include dark childhood adventures, siblings and cousins, grown-ups, shag carpeting, and the many blue waters of her home.
Selected · Mount Vernon, Washington
Education
2013
BA, Studio Arts — Western Washington University
2023
MA, Elementary Education — Western Governors University
Positions
2013–2014
Executive Director — Anchor Art Space, Anacortes, WA
2018–2019
Program Manager — Voices of the Children, Mount Vernon, WA
2023-present
Art Teacher - Burlington School District, Burlington, WA
Exhibitions
2023
Art Auction — Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA (May–June)
2021–22
Small Art Works, juried show — Guilded Gallery, Stanwood, WA (Oct–Jan)
2021
Celebrate Summer — Guilded Gallery, Stanwood, WA (June–Sept)
2021
Art Auction — Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA (May–June)
2020
A Little Bit of Americana, group show — Madzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park, Camano Island, WA (Oct–Nov)
2018
Our Shared Story — Ramtha, Azraq and Amman, Jordan (June)
2018
Our Shared Story — Mount Vernon Downtown Artwalk, WA (May)
2015–17
Operation Day Job — The Postal Project, Mount Vernon, WA
2015
Solo show — Cordata Community Food Co-op, Bellingham, WA (Nov–Jan)
2015
Art in the City, group show — 1213 Cornwall, Bellingham, WA (May–June)
2014
The Ruthless Ones, with Andrew Joyce Heimer — Anchor Art Space, Anacortes, WA (Aug–Sept)
2014
When You're a Stranger, solo show — The Shop, Conway, WA (July)
2014
There Goes the Neighborhood, solo show — Greenwood Collective, Seattle, WA
2013
Solo show — Elysian Brewery, Seattle, WA
2012
Solo show — Elysian Brewery, Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
2011
Solo show — Elysian Brewery, Green Lake, Seattle, WA
2011
Group show — Viking Gallery, Bellingham, WA
2011
Live painting, group show — The Blending Room, Manson, WA
2010
Design & Display — BSAC, Bellingham, WA
Workshops & Residencies
2023
Mountain Mural — Samish Elementary School, Sedro-Woolley, WA
2018
Painting workshop — Laventure Middle School, Mount Vernon, WA
2017
Painting workshop — Oasis Teen Shelter, Mount Vernon, WA
2016
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center — Sedro-Woolley, WA (January)
2014
Clay workshop — Utsalady Elementary, Camano Island, WA
2011
Cause and Effect — Do Ho Suh installation crew with Artech, WWU
2010
Artist in Residence — Little Mountain Elementary, Mount Vernon, WA
Non-Profit & Work Abroad
2021
Magic Skagit Public Arts Project Mural — Mount Vernon, WA
2018–19
HOME painting/writing mural workshop — Azraq, Jordan · Geneva, Switzerland · Mount Vernon, WA
2018
Painting, poetry workshop — Azraq Refugee Camp, Jordan
2018
Painting workshop — Youth Without Borders, Ramtha, Jordan
Teacher workshop — Queen Rania Children's Museum, Amman, Jordan
Affiliations
Voices of the Children · Skagit River Poetry Foundation · Youth Without Borders · Norwegian Refugee Council · Syria Fund
Inquiries about available work are welcome
Studio
Mount Vernon, Washington
Phone
© 2026 Sarah Denby · Sculpture photography by Crista Dougherty