Sarah McRae brings birds and stories to life in her vibrant acrylic paintings

Step into Overture Galleries’ fall exhibitions, and you’ll find works that explore the unseen forces shaping our world—light, time, energy and memory. For Madison-based acrylic artist Sarah McRae, those forces often take the shape of birds. 

When McRae paints in her home along a golf course, she opens the windows and listens. The soundtrack? Barn swallows, ravens and house finches. Soon, they make their way onto her canvases.  

“They’re cheerful, cute and happy,” McRae says. “I love giving them personality.”  

Paired with her love of clean lines, geometric shapes and bold patterns, her playful birds embody the harmony she finds in nature. 

But McRae’s work is about more than joy. It’s also about stories—especially the ones carried by memory. She recalls a summer when a hummingbird collided with her family’s window. Her mother held the tiny bird until it revived, and afterward it circled her as she read on the porch. Decades later, McRae was struck when her father, who is losing his memory, recounted the moment in vivid detail. Experiences like this deepen her art, turning beauty into narrative. 

McRae’s connection to the natural world runs deep. Growing up in the country, she spent summers chasing butterflies, exploring ponds and watching turtles slip into the water. Those early days still inspire her, as does traditional Ojibwe beadwork with its intricate textures and patterns. Both influences shine in her paintings, where birds, turtles, butterflies and bears often stand in for the people she loves. 

“I started realizing I can do more than just paint something beautiful,” she reflects. “I can put my stories into the artwork.” 

A member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, McRae was born in Green Bay, adopted by Tony and Michele McRae, and went on to earn her MFA at UW–Madison. Since 1996, she has taught art at Velma Hamilton Middle School, passing along her passion for design, storytelling and the creative spark she finds in nature. 

Visit Overture Galleries through Sunday, Nov. 30 to see McRae's artwork in Gallery III: Interconnected Visions. Galleries are free and open to the public, with most artworks available for purchase. Meet McRae and other artists at our free Artist Reception on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 

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