CCAD Stories: Sarah Pfiefer

Sarah Pfiefer (Photography, 2020) didn’t take the direct route to enrolling at Columbus College of Art & Design.

After earning her GED in 2011, Pfiefer, who was homeschooled, bounced around from place to place trying to find direction. Cosmetology school wasn’t a good fit. Neither were culinary school or nursing school. She contemplated joining the military, but ultimately a stint as a Disney World photographer helped uncover where her interests and talents truly lay. Pfeiffer captured snaps of happy families posing with favorite characters, and in her off time, she discovered she had a knack for capturing images of parades at the theme park.

Pfiefer realized she wanted to work for Disney’s advertising agency, producing images for promotional materials. But to gain a salaried position, she would need an undergraduate degree—and that was no small matter, given that she’d already been declined admission to CCAD because of poor grades.

But Pfiefer got to work, re-enrolling at Columbus State Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree and improved her GPA from a “one-point something” to a 3.8, finally gaining admission to CCAD in 2017.

“When I got in, I cried,” she recalls.

At CCAD, Pfeiffer has grown as an artist and a photographer.

She’s become more confident in exploring her practice and creating meaningful work that connects with audiences and provides a clear path for her career goals.

We spoke with Pfiefer about her CCAD thesis project, how she thrives while managing a chronic illness, and her plans for the future.

What do you like about studying photography in Columbus and at CCAD?
There's a lot of versatility here and I didn't figure that out until I really started diving into the different communities and subcommunities here. It's so diverse. Today, I have a photoshoot with a drag queen—I’ve been photographing drag queens for a couple of years now.

Can you talk about one of your projects on view at Chroma: Best of CCAD?
I am recreating old movie posters in the mindset of “if Hollywood was inclusive.” So there's a lot of body positivity and people of color represented, and probably some of the trans community because I think that's important.

I just kind of want to take people into the same kind of mindset as me. Most of my proposal is about how plus-size women and plus-size characters are seen as the comedic relief in films or the best friend who needs the absolutely extensive makeover to be loved, and I'm over it. And so I'm making it like I make most of my art—out of a lot of anger over things I have zero control over. It's something that will have a deep fine arts meaning to it but that I can also use in a commercial portfolio. I'm hoping it's something employers will see.

How does health play a role in your life and your practice?
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease my first spring semester here. I got sick. I was super tired, super sick, and I wasn’t eating because I wasn’t hungry and when I did eat, I was super nauseous and felt gross. My professors were understanding.

I was diagnosed with mono, but then that subsided and I was still sick, so my doctor sent me to a gastroenterologist, and I had a colonoscopy the week after the semester ended. I woke up from my colonoscopy and my doctor said, “you have an ugly colon. You have Crohn’s disease.” I spent the first four days of that summer break in the hospital getting iron infusions and on the worst diet on the face of the planet to get me back to where I should be. Had I blown it off any further, it probably would’ve killed me. I just wasn't listening to my body. Now I’m way better about it.

I get IV infusions of Remicade every six weeks. It kills my immune system off. I went from taking two pills a day to 11 pills a day now. I spent that first summer getting better, and when I came back, I wasn’t anemic, I wasn’t dying, but I immediately went through all the steps of getting disability accommodations. It was a whirlwind, but I was shocked by how many people have been supportive about it and now I’m pretty close to remission.

How do you keep yourself balanced?
My family (parents Jim and Kristi, brother Jake) have been Blue Jackets season ticket-holders for 10 years. We’ve stuck with the Blue Jackets through the really, really bad and the really, really good. That's my stress release and my break from everything. Me and my brother switch off (going to the National Hockey League games) with my dad, or me and my brother will go to games together sometimes, and it's a whole family bonding experience.

I recently started working out and that helps a lot. My dad, brother, and I work out with a personal trainer twice a week. Most of that is weight training or bodyweight type of stuff. We do it at a place called Ultimate You in New Albany. They're fantastic and they're anti-diet culture and they're all about being you and being healthy.

How has your chronic illness affected your craft?
All of last year was me trying to find footing and be positive and try to take care of myself. Last semester was the first time I did something personal about it. In fiber exploration class, I needle-felted the microscopic view of a colon biopsy with Crohn’s and I made a purse with it. In my video class last semester, I did my project about my Crohn’s and the Remicade infusions … it made me feel incredibly vulnerable. I was putting a huge part of me out there for most of the school to see. In class, I got really positive critiques about it. I didn’t want people to feel bad for me, I wanted them to focus on the technical aspects of what I could improve in my work and they did.

I’d like to go back to Disney—I have one specific internship I have my eye on. I also spent my Winter Break applying for jobs at 18 places all over the country. I’m looking for a corporate position because I need health insurance and benefits. I also think the structure of someone directing me in a day job gives me freedom to be creative when I make stuff outside of work.

See outstanding work by Sara Pfiefer and other Columbus College of Art & Design students at Chroma: Best of CCAD on Thursday, May 7, 2020. Get your free ticket now.

Learn more about CCAD’s Photography program or apply now.