BIOGRAPHY
Emily Sara (she/her) is a queer, disabled, neurodivergent, artist, designer, researcher, publisher, organizer, and Assistant Professor of Graphic Design. She specializes in Accessible Design, a practice which cohabitates with her active studio practice. Using the language of advertising and animation, her art critiques the Medical Industrial Complex (MIC) and societal control over disabled bodies.
Founder of two initiatives, she is editor-in-chief at cripple, a publishing initiative that exclusively supports disabled artists and designers—and sick and tired, a design firm that focuses on accessibility, research, consulting, and providing opportunities for other disabled talents.
Emily received her undergraduate degree from Boston University in Advertising and Art History and her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She is the author of the article Fighting the Art World’s Ableism published by Hyperallergic and has lectured and held workshops at institutions such as Yale School of Art, MIT, Otis College of Art and Design, Virginia Commonwealth University, and University of Richmond. She is presently conducting research for Center for Book Arts and NYU Steinhardt on the intersections of access and book design.
Emily is currently collaborating on several publications via cripple due out in the coming year, giving lectures throughout the so-called U.S., and fabricating a new series of sculptures/drawings when her body allows. She is also applying for a service dog, searching for an affordable accessible van for her wheelchair, attempting to keep her chronic pain at 7 out of 10 or lower, and staying alive.
For an up-to-date cv please contact emily@sickandtired.studio