Emily Cate Sabree
About
Emily Cate Sabree (b. 1981) is a contemporary realist oil painter based in Manhattan. Her work explores how disposable items and leisure activities are integral to contemporary American consumer culture, reflecting the complexities of modern existence through a realist lens.
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Currently a Merit scholarship recipient at the Art Students League of New York, Emily studies portraiture and figure painting under the esteemed White House portrait artist, Sharon Sprung. As a resident artist member of the Salmagundi Club, she engages with a vibrant community of fellow artists, enriching her practice and artistic exploration.
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Emily's art has garnered attention and is held in private collections across the United States. In 2023, she was honored to be an artist in residence at the Ora Lerman Charitable Trust. Her recent exhibitions include MYTHOS at The Painting Center, Postcards from Paradise at Voss Gallery in San Francisco, and the Affordable Art Fair in NYC with treat gallery. Additionally, her work has been featured at the Nordstrom NYC Flagship home store, showcasing her talent to a broader audience.
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With a commitment to blending contemporary themes with traditional techniques, Emily Sabree continues to create thought-provoking works that resonate with viewers, inviting them to reflect on the nuances of consumerism in their own lives. Currently, she is working on large-scale oil paintings slated for release in late 2024.
Exhibitions
2025 New Members Invitational Show, Rockwell Gallery, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2025 Student Salon, Sharon Sprung class show, Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, Art Students League of New York, NY
2024 Holiday Show, Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, Art Students League of New York, NY
2024 Day of the Dead Group exhibition, League at Large x Nordstrom, New York, NY
2024 Summer Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2024 Pollinators Group exhibition, VEME Studios, Greenport, NY
2023 Curious Spontaneity Group exhibition, Nordstrom Flagship Home Store, New York, NY
2023 Postcards From Paradise Group exhibition, Voss Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2023 Affordable Art Fair, treat gallery, New York, NY
2023 MYTHOS Group exhibition, Curated by Clintel Steed, The Painting Center, New York, NY
2023 Artist Residency Exhibition, Soaring Gardens Residency at the Ora Lerman Trust, Laceyville, PA
2022 Summer Lovin' Group exhibition, treat gallery, New York, NY
2022 Piccolo Group exhibition, Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, NY
2022 Artist Residency Exhibition, JX Farms Artist Residency, Cleveland, MS
2022 The Color of Nature Group exhibition, Inside Small Art Exhibits, Rockland, NY
2022 Art in the Time of Corona Vol. 3 Group exhibition, Dab Art Co., Los Angeles, CA
2022 Student Concours Group exhibition, Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, Art Students League of New York, NY
2022 ETERNITY Group exhibition, The Holy Art Gallery, London, UK
2022 Best in Show Group exhibition, Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, NY
2022 Group exhibition, Rockland Arts Festival, Rockland, NY
Press
Activities
2023 Witness Magazine Spring Issue Cover Artist
2023 Create! Magazine Interview, Contemporary Realism Meets Pop Art
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2025 Blue Dot Award, Student Salon Honorable Mention, Art Students League of New York, NY
2024-25 Merit Scholarship Recipient, Art Students League of New York, NY
2023 Resident Artist Membership, The Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2023 Artist Residency, Soaring Gardens at the Ora Lerman Charitable Trust, Laceyville, PA
2023 Guest Curator, Summer Saudade, Art y Honey Gallery, New York, NY
2023 Create! Magazine Interview, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Witness Magazine Spring Issue Cover Artist, University of Las Vegas, NV
2022 Artist Talk, Troy University, Troy, AL
2022 Artist Residency, JX Farms, Cleveland MS
2022 Artist Talk, Emerge Gallery, Saugerties, NY
2022 Artist Interview, The Color of Nature Exhibition, Ridgewood, NJ
Artist Statement
My work reflects on contemporary consumer culture, particularly the pervasive practice of commemorating significant life events with single-use plastic items.
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I create realistic oil paintings that depict disposable plastic objects from my life: balloons, shopping bags, and plastic-wrapped candies. While these objects serve a temporary purpose, they contribute to a cycle of waste that will linger in landfills for generations. This contradiction raises important questions about our consumer choices and why we continue to make decisions that undermine our long-term well-being.
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Each piece serves as a meditation on how our purchasing decisions shape our experiences and influence our collective existence. I begin by arranging a still life in my studio, carefully selecting items that reflect my consumption habits. After photographing these compositions and subtly manipulating the images, I translate them onto canvas in oil.
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This combination of composing objects from my life, adjusting the lighting and color through photography, and painting allows me to explore the narratives and emotions tied to these familiar objects, inviting viewers to examine their own relationships with consumption. My goal is to spark dialogue about the impact of our choices and to highlight the beauty found in the ordinary, ultimately envisioning a future where we can celebrate life sustainably.
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