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thePeorian.com
T
he passion for art had
humble beginnings in
Peoria for artist Sarah
Nesbit. In high school, she
became a fixture in the music
scene, especially at the VFW and
Skate Park where she discovered
that some form of art would one
day become her life’s obsession.
When she wasn’t attending
musical performances in
unassuming places, she was in
her bedroom listening to records
or experimenting with her paints.
It was her high school teacher,
Mrs. Snarr, who recognized that
Nesbit had a promising future
in the arts, so promising that
she was awarded the Jeanette
Browning Memorial Award at
graduation from Richwoods
High School.
A second pivotal figure was
Professor Phyllis Bramson, who
also recognized her talent at the
University of Illinois in Chicago
and continued the connection
after graduation when Nesbit
went to work as her professor’s
studio assistant.
Initially Nesbit moved to
Chicago for her studies, earning
her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
at the University of Illinois in
Chicago in 2000 and her Masters
in Fine Arts at The School of the
Art Institute of Chicago in 2005.
She admits she didn’t like living
in Chicago in the beginning, so
she moved back to Peoria after
six months to regroup.
After a year, she knew she had
to go back.
“
I remember my mom
reminding me that I didn’t like
Chicago,” said Nesbit. “And
my response was that it was
the closest city with a good art
museum.
“
Also, my love for The Art
Institute goes without saying. It is
an amazing museum and to have
direct access would be invaluable
for my career,” said Nesbit. “I
just knew I had to have that if I
was going to have a future in the
arts.”
ARTIST’S
RETURN A
PLUS FOR
PEORIA
by Cathi Hawkinson
Peoria native Sarah Nesbit, who returned recently after spending several years in Chicago,
now paints in a Peoria studio and largely uses paint she makes herself.
