Sarah Schroeder is a self-taught multi-media artist and photographer based in the Des Moines metro area.
For my exhibition work, I only 35mm film and I do not digitally alter my images. I take multiple exposures on the same frame of film to create my effects. I like to photograph common landmarks and vistas in a new abstracted way that makes the viewer question how it was done, especially after finding out that it was not done on a computer.
I shoot digital photography only for concerts for the sake of speed of final processing. I shoot 35mm film at some shows as well.
I prefer experimenting with analog processes and antique cameras because of the challenge, range of possibilities, and the often surprise results. I never truly know what my final images will look like until the film is developed and scanned; every attempt is an educated guess. While some ideas are planned, often they are thought of in the moment while walking around depending on what I see in front of me and the lighting conditions.
In my younger years I did not travel much and now that I have the ability, I travel often, always bringing my camera along. While some of my ideas are planned, most of them come to me in the moment based off what I see in front of me while exploring my destinations on foot.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2025 - Valley Junction Gallery Night; Five Monkeys; West Des Moines, IA
- Solo Exhibit; Compass Financial; West Des Moines, IA
2024 - Educated Guesses; Ankeny Art Center; Ankeny, IA
- Sarah Schroeder; First Unitarian Church; Des Moines, IA
Group Shows
2025 - MASS/DSM Color Photography Show; Des Moines, IA
- Community Photography Show; TheFINDLab, Provo, UT
- Mainframe Studio Exhibit; Principal Financial Taylor Gallery, Des Moines, IA
2024 - Iowa State Fair Photography Salon; Des Moines, IA
- Visual Storytellers; Mainframe Studios; Des Moines, IA
- New Masters Exhibit; Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center; Council Bluffs, IA
2023 - Greater Des Moines Exhibited; Polk Co Heritage Gallery; Des Moines, IA
Festivals
2025 - Val Air Holiday Fair; West Des Moines, IA
- Reiman Gardens Holiday Market; Ames, IA
- Art on the Prairie; Perry, IA
- Minnehaha Falls Art Fair; Minneapolis, MN
- Northside Market; Des Moines, IA
- Des Moines Arts Festival; Des Moines, IA
- Stone Arch Bridge Festival; Minneapolis, MN
- Edina Art Fair; Edina, MN
2024 - Art on the Prairie; Perry, IA
- Octagon Arts Festival; Ames, IA
- Waukee Arts Festival; Waukee, IA
- Reiman Gardens Art Fair; Ames, IA
- Ankeny Arts Festival; Ankeny, IA