Today we’d like to introduce you to Sacha Lazarre.
Hi sacha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I can remember, I have carried pieces of home with me.
I was born to a Haitian couple in Brooklyn whose dreams stretched far beyond the place they called home. My father was a math teacher, and my mom, a nursing student. They had come to New York believing in the American dream but cold winters and racial tensions pushed them to keep moving and settle in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I spent most of my childhood.
This shaped who I am today. Moving frequently taught me what it feels like to be new, and what it means to be welcomed. Or not. I got comfortable with being uncomfortable. I was the shy, bookish kid who got dropped in places where I didn’t know a soul -or the language- and had to figure out how to belong, or at least, how to look like I did.
For me, that was art.
Besides giving me a way to express myself and pass the time, it helped me define my identity and make friends.
At home, and in the homes of my parents’ friends, I was surrounded by art from Haiti, Africa, and the places of origin of a very diverse and tight-knit international community. Even before I fully understood it, I observed the power of art to inspire, to connect, and to provoke. I wanted to create those same feelings in others.
I didn’t get the chance to study art professionally, but I have pursued learning and creativity ever since. Today, I work primarily in acrylics and often incorporate mixed media such as collage, oil sticks, spray paint, and typography. I have been influenced by many different styles and artists, and my work uses color and texture to move from expressive abstraction to figurative imagery.
My favorite way to start a new piece is with a few inspirational words or lyrics, and then to let the materials guide me. I rarely know exactly where a painting will take me—and that’s what I love about it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road, though I have appreciated the journey.
I say this because most of what I know, I have learned through trial and error. It can be absolutely frustrating when I can’t get my vision onto the canvas the way I imagine it, but I’ve come to understand there is beauty in letting go and accepting what comes. I’ve also come to realize – finally, that when I do that, when I allow the painting to “do what it wants,” I actually tend to be happier with the results. I really like happy accidents!
Another struggle has been finding the time to devote to my art in the way that I would like. I know I am not unique in this. I am the mother of a teenager and also work full-time for a community-serving organization, doing work that matters deeply to me. Finding space for all three is not always easy, but art continues to be something I value and will always find a way to create.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a visual artist exploring moments, culture, and connection through painting. I’m deeply curious about the universality of the human experience—how, despite our individual complexities and differences, we are connected by the same simple pleasures, emotions, memories, and experiences.
I am known for layering and mixing vibrant colors across jazz inspired themes, urban city-scapes, abstract hearts, and every day moments in life. I am most proud that my artwork, Kinfolks, was featured on a billboard on the Southwest Freeway, commemorating the 100th anniversary of BakerRipley.
Whatever shape my art takes in the future, I hope it will bring joy and a sense of familiarity, an invitation for the viewer to see themselves in someone else’s experience. I have a theory that the people who connect with my art would probably connect with one another too. I’d really like to test that someday….
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lessons have been about trust. Trusting myself, and also trusting that the art always finds its way to the right person- at the right time. I had to learn to be still, to recognize inspiration in all its forms, to follow my intuition, and to trust the process.
I’m still a work in progress, but I can tell the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: Shopify- https://41ekv1-bm.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akasachoo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtandDesignbySacha
