Kia ora, My name is Sarah Rowland - and I am a self taught artist from New Zealand. ​At the start of 2024, I decided to leave a 15-year career in visual merchandising to build a future where my life lessons and creativity could offer something back. In October 2024, I began creating a body of work centered on this mission. This journey led to my first solo exhibition in October 2025, with two further solo shows scheduled for February and June 2026. ​For the last 18 months, I have dedicated myself to building a catalog of subjects. When I am not in Auckland for my part-time national merchandising role, I am painting. While the pace of this journey has been challenging to balance, it has been deeply rewarding. ​As a self-taught artist, I understood from the beginning that my path would be unconventional. I made the conscious decision to paint what I know, filming my process as a reference for anyone seeking to understand the true depth of my expression. ​My work often originates from my writing—taking a difficult subject and giving it a melody. This process demonstrates the power of leaning into the darkness to find gratitude. Ultimately, I want my art to serve as a platform for humanity, reflecting that strength back into the community. ​