Sean Roarty '25

Can you talk about what brought you to Maine College of Art & Design? Did you know what you wanted to study? If not, how did you decide?

Maine College of Art & Design had a good presence in a good location, and it seemed like a good fit for where I was, and Maine seemed like a good place to bring my family. I have always done illustration and painting throughout the years. Initially, I came to Maine College of Art & Design for that, and I used my painting portfolio to get in. Once I did that, though, I discovered sculpture and became enamored with it. However, as I pursued that, I realized I needed to get some of the intangibles I wanted from my painting practice. And so, I had to change course and my major in the middle of my studies. It was a process, but I enjoyed it, and I loved being able to do all the sculptural work I did while having a place in the painting program here.

How has the community you’ve found influenced your work?

One of the draws of coming to the College was seeing how community-based it was. Everybody comes together around the common core of art and art education, as well as larger community considerations and viewpoints of the world, trying to make the changes that will make the world a better place for everybody. The College has that sense of community and encourages you to keep your eye on everything that's going on around you so you can be a well-rounded artist. That has affected my work: Instead of sitting in the studio by myself at home, I'm out here seeing everything that's going on, seeing different viewpoints, and I can keep myself honest.

How does Portland and Maine influence your work?

I've lived in many different places in the United States, and coming here, I've realized Portland has its unique differences that I've tuned into — being around the ocean and the waterfront especially. I've lived in Colorado quite a bit, so the mountains were the ocean of Colorado, if you will. It's been quite an ontological change coming to where there is a lot of maritime influence, which I find charming. And there's the history that Maine has with the arts, with its proximity to centers like Boston and New York, and the artistic traditions of painting up here in Maine and some of the schools that came out of that. I think that's really interesting.

If you could choose one word to describe your time at Maine College of Art & Design, what would it be?

I would go with enriching. The College allows you to build those facets of your viewpoint on the world, take it all in, and see how you come into these things as a person. So, going into these areas and seeing how all the other individuals operate and move things together through their art practice and lives and seeing the friendships and communities they build is a very enriching experience.

What opportunities have you had at the College that you believe would not have been possible elsewhere?

I understand it is part of many different art programs, but the ability to make mistakes is valuable. I don't have to be so concerned about whether my work is this or that or overly technical to the point of strangling the life out of it. I can do what I want; the work goes where it goes. The little pieces that come from that can come back to help inform my work. I enjoy that freedom to fail. In this art school environment, it's essential to be able to do that; it's a form of practice, and the College is a place that can provide a safe space to fail. And, you know, you've got the community and the faculty around you to help you through those moments.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself continuing my artistic practice and merging all the facets of sculpture and painting that I've learned here. I also want to incorporate all the community experiences and things I've learned through networking here: working with other artists and combining all the things I've learned to make art that is beneficial to society in some small way.