Division: Upper School
Teaches: Visual Art
Upper School art teacher Sarah Zwerling is currently in her twelfth year at GFS, where she teaches Foundation of Art, Sculpture, and Digital Art, and co-teaches the Machine Studio course. Originally from Venice Beach, California, she has called the Philadelphia area home since 1999.
Prominent institutions, such as the Comcast Center and the Philadelphia International Airport, have commissioned Zwerling to create immersive, large-scale digital collages. For her latest piece, “Bloom” at Penn Medicine’s Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs, she created layered cityscapes with hand-cut pieces of translucent white vellum. Then, she photographed and composed them into large-scale digital collages, lending a tactile, human touch that brings a sense of warmth and care to the hospital setting.
“For my new work at Penn Medicine, I was struck by the architectural details visible through the windows—the contrast between old buildings and new skyscrapers,” she said. “My work often intertwines nature and architecture, and for this project, I wanted to bring that outside view into the interior.”
"Bloom," four large digital photo collages, 2025, Penn Medicine Clifton Center, Philadelphia
Zwerling has a unique and specific point of view that she shares in her classroom every day. Here are five nuggets of artistic wisdom she imparts to her students, no matter where they are in their artistic journeys:
Multi-Disciplinary Discoveries
“Working across disciplines allows the process to stay open and flexible. I’ve worked with glass blowing, sculpture, and installation art. Decisions about material, color, and scale can completely shift the meaning and mood of a piece.”
Inside the Art
“Immersive art allows you to take your time moving through a work without being directed to a single focal point, encouraging repeated engagement and slower looking. Immersion comes from scale, layering, and complexity; when there are multiple points of entry, we can explore an artwork differently with each experience.”
Inspiration is Everywhere
“Find inspiration by noticing details in your surroundings. Small moments, patterns, and unexpected visual connections often spark ideas.”
No Need to Rush
“Spend some time with the project before jumping to a solution. No matter the size or scale of a piece, the goal is to identify the core problem first and then explore multiple possibilities—ideally creating five different ideas—before committing to a direction. Slow down, observe the environment, and iterate.”
Art Without Barriers
“Artworks in public spaces can create moments of pause and reflection within fast-paced environments. Encountering artwork out in the world can shift someone’s thinking or emotional state, or even evoke memories."