CV

Sarah Vanasse Miles

www.sarahvanassemiles.com
sarah@sarahvanassemiles.com│ 507-399-4526
Rochester, MN 55904


Education

MA, Social Justice and Ethics – Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO (2015–2017)
BA, Religious Studies – Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, MN (2010–2013)


Grants & Awards

Best in Show – Med City Art Competition, Rochester, MN (Sep 2025)
Emerging Artist Grant – Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (Oct 2024)
Chiaroscuro Chronicles: Reinterpreting Narratives of Antiquity through Film Aesthetics
1st Place, Professional Painting – Med City Art Competition, Gallery 24, Rochester, MN (Sep 2024)
Our Lady of Creative Elements (2023), Oil on Canvas
1st Place, Plein Air Painting – Med City Art Competition, Rochester, MN (Sep 2024)
The Peace Plaza (2024), Oil on Panel
Grand Champion – Martin County Fair, Fairmont, MN (Aug 2023)
Our Lady of Creative Elements (2023), Oil on Canvas, Handmade Walnut Frame
1st Place Painting – Martin County Fair, Fairmont, MN (Aug 2022)
Hayward Landscape (2022), Oil on Canvas
1st Place Drawing – Martin County Fair, Fairmont, MN (Aug 2022)
198 Kent Street (2022), Graphite on Paper
Reserve Grand Champion & 1st Place Painting – Martin County Fair, Fairmont, MN (Aug 2021)
Miles’ Farm (2021), Oil on Canvas


Solo Exhibitions

Urban Forage Winery & Cider House – Minneapolis, MN (May 2024 – Jan 2025)
Self-curated exhibition in upscale urban taproom.

Red Rock Center for the Arts – Fairmont, MN (Feb – Mar 2023)
Self-curated solo exhibition.


Group Exhibitions

Med City Art Festival – Gallery 24, Rochester, MN (Aug – Nov 2025 & 2024)
C4W: 2023 – The Periphery of Power – Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis, MN (Jul – Aug 2023)
Curated by Esther Callahan. Embrace (2022) featured, noted by MPLSART.com.
Bohemian – Van Der Plas Gallery, New York City, NY (Apr 2023)
Art Crawl Hangover – Narva Gallery, Saint Paul, MN (Nov – Dec 2019)
Annual Halloween Show – 410 Project, Mankato, MN (Oct – Nov 2018)


Commissions (Private Collections)

Portrait of Emma Sletta – Oil on Panel, 5” x 7” (Dec 2024)
Pet Portrait – Oil on Panel, 8” x 10” (Nov 2022)
Portrait of Andrew Fox – Oil on Canvas, 16” x 20” (Oct 2022)
Cityscape of Minneapolis – Oil on Panel, 5” x 7” (Jun 2022)
Miles’ Farmscape – Oil on Canvas, 12” x 12” (Jul 2021)


Art Fairs & Gallery Shops

Rochester Art Center – Rochester, MN (2025)
Art-A-Whirl – Minneapolis, MN (2023, 2024)
Saint Paul Art Crawl – Various Venues, Saint Paul, MN (2019–2023)
Thursdays on First – Rochester, MN (Jun – Aug 2024)
Threshold Arts – Rochester, MN (Dec 2023 – Jan 2024)
Raw Artist Showcase – The Pourhouse, Minneapolis, MN (Feb 2019)


Public Art

Going Hog Wild in Martin County – Fairmont, MN (2023)
Sponsored by Kahler Automation & Becker Financial Group

Otto Mater (2023), Acrylic on Cement Pig Statue, 2’ x 4’ x 1’

Penny Pincher (2023), Acrylic on Cement Pig Statue, 2’ x 4’ x 1’


Works in Progress & Upcoming

Chiaroscuro Chronicles: Reinterpreting Narratives of Antiquity through Film Aesthetics
Grant-supported project (Oct 2024 – Oct 2025) – 12 oil paintings blending Renaissance chiaroscuro with 1940s cinema lighting.

Upcoming Commission – Private Collection: 198 Kent Street, Oil on Canvas, 16” x 20”


Press (Print & Online)

2026 Women Artists Datebook – Syracuse Cultural Workers (Our Lady of Creative Elements)
House & Garden – The Art Edit (Aug 2023)
Sentinel – “Vanasse Brings Artwork Home” (Feb 2023)
CanvasRebel MagazineMeet Sarah (2023 & 2025)
Bold JourneyMeet Sarah Vanasse Miles (Feb 2024)
MPLSART.comThe Periphery of Power at Gamut Gallery (Jul 2023)
Voyage MinnesotaCheck Out Sarah Vanasse Miles’s Story (Mar 2023)
Fairmont Sentinel OnlineVanasse Brings Artwork Home (Feb 2023)


Workshops & Training

The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts – Minneapolis, MN (2022)

Basic Drawing (Jan – May)

Figure Drawing (Mar)

Winter Plein Air (Mar)

Michael Chelich: The Elements of Art & Principles of Composition (Mar)