Visual Arts

Where Creativity Finds Its Audience

Step into the crossroads of creativity.

Art isn’t meant to exist in a vacuum—it thrives in connection, collaboration, and conversation. This is a space for artists who want to share their work, reach new audiences, and push creative boundaries together.

When visual and performing artists get in the same room, unexpected magic happens. A painting can inspire a stage design, a costume can shape a character, an installation can become part of the story. This program is about that overlap—the space where ideas collide, disciplines mix, and something totally new emerges.

Whether you’re a painter, designer, sculptor, maker, or crafter, there’s room for you to exhibit, sell, create, experiment, and grow in a community that actually supports artists. Forget the gatekeeping—this is about creating art, making connections, and seeing what happens when creativity has the freedom to play.

Visual Arts Programming

Empire Art Gallery | COMING SOON!

A space for artists to shine. Our Community Gallery is where visual art meets community storytelling. Our exhibitions feature local talent, emerging voices, and unexpected artistic collaborations.

Arts & Crafts Store | COMING SOON!

A store for artists, run by artists. Tired of losing 40-50% of your sales to galleries and boutiques? Our Arts & Crafts Store is different—here, you set the price, we don't take a cut.

Creative Flare | COMING SOON!

A welcoming space for artists, makers, and crafters living with chronic pain or illness. Creative Flare is a low-pressure gathering where creatives can share adaptive techniques, explore new mediums, and find community with others who understand the challenges of making art while managing physical limitations.

Meet Our Program Director Sara Sturtevant

Sara Sturtevant is an artist, designer, and creative facilitator with over 30 years of experience in art and design. She works across disciplines, from illustration to web design, sculpture to theatrical design, with a passion for storytelling through visual and tactile forms.

Sara has experience curating gallery exhibitions, organizing pop-up shows, and facilitating charity art auctions, bringing artists together to showcase their work and support creative communities. She applies her experience in UX design to create interactive and immersive artistic experiences that invite participation and spark curiosity.

At Empire Arts Collective, Sara is the Art Director for devised theatre productions, leading scenic design, prop fabrication, and costuming. She also heads up Empire’s Visual Arts Program, curating exhibitions, organizing workshops, and fostering a space for creative exploration. Drawing from her background in marketing and human-centered design, she prioritizes accessibility and engagement, ensuring that artists and audiences feel connected to the creative process.

Bernie Baktashian

she/her

Artistic Community Program Director, Board President

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