ART BEYOND BOUNDARIES: INSIDE SARAH FERTIKH’S VAULT

Words by Velin

Moving Between Mediums

“The Vault brings together painting, jewelry, tattooing, and more. How do you personally experience the act of moving between mediums?” we asked.

Sarah responded with disarming honesty: “I move with ideas and inspiration more than anything else. For me, the act of switching between painting, jewelry, tattooing, or glassware isn’t about a strict process—it’s about following where my heart feels drawn in the moment. I create with intention, and when I feel that spark, I let it guide me into whatever medium feels right.”

She described the subtle but powerful moment when a piece feels complete. “There’s this small but powerful moment I love—the few seconds where I look at a piece I’ve made and in my heart, I know it’s ‘finished.’ That moment of satisfaction keeps me moving. When I finish a project I always yearn to create more. Even when I’m not physically creating, I’m always thinking about it. Those thoughts flow in and out of each medium, carrying connections, disconnections, and new possibilities.”

Her creative life is in constant motion: “That constant flow of creation allows for constant inspiration and growth.”

Exploration Over Limitation

In a world where many artists are told to niche down, Sarah rejects the idea. “I don’t really feel like I’m risking anything at all—in fact, I think there’s only room to gain. By choosing exploration over limitations and traditions, I give myself endless space to do what feels right in the moment. I mainly create for myself, so when I’m in the act of making, it’s something so personal that I’m not concerned with what others might think. That freedom lets my mind guide me, and it opens up this incredible space where I can do whatever I want without hesitation.”

For her, exploration isn’t a gamble. It’s the only way forward.

Redefining the Smoking Experience

With Maison Fumée, Sarah has turned vintage vases into works that are both functional and expressive. “What draws me in is exactly that tension—taking something that’s been seen as countercultural or even taboo and elevating it into an object of beauty, glamour, and play. For me, it’s about shifting perspective: why can’t a bong also be a piece of art or a decorative object you’re proud to display in your space?”

She insists the work is about ownership and identity: “Maison Fumée is about owning the experience unapologetically. It’s not just about smoking; it’s about making the object itself a statement of who you are and how you choose to live. By reimagining vintage vases into glassware, I’m not only honoring the history and craft of those objects but also infusing them with new life—turning something everyday and subversive into something timeless and self-expressive.”

The Vault as Living Archive

When asked whether The Vault is a single evolving project or an archive of identities, she simply replied: “Both. The Vault is always evolving, but it also holds many lives and identities at once. Each piece, each medium, each moment of creation reflects a different version of myself. Together, they coexist in the same space—an archive that keeps growing while still being alive and in motion.”

Instinct and Discipline

Sarah’s relationship to instinct is straightforward. “Honestly, I just have a short patience (Lol). I enjoy moving from one medium to another because they’re so different—it almost feels like a palate cleanser. Tattooing might be raw and immediate, while jewelry is more meticulous and crafted, but shifting between them keeps me inspired. Each medium feeds into the other, sparking new ideas and giving me the energy to approach the next project with fresh eyes.”

What Drives Creation and What Remains

For Sarah, creation is inseparable from existence itself. “Honestly, it’s me. My thoughts, my body, my heart, my environment, and the people in it—all of that drives me to create. I don’t think it’s curiosity or rebellion as much as it’s an internal need. Creating feels like the most natural way I process myself and the world around me. At the end of the day, what drives me to create is simply me.”

That deeply personal process also shapes what she hopes others take away from her work. “I’d want people to walk away with the feeling that creativity has no boundaries. The Vault isn’t about one medium or one identity—it’s about possibility. If someone leaves with a sense of freedom, inspiration, or even just permission to express themselves in their own way, then I’ve done what I set out to do.”

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