Beyond the Canvas: Using Art to Tackle Big Conversations with Sabrina Phillips
What if art could change the way you see yourself—and the world? Sabrina Phillips is an artist and educator who helps people—from students to corporate leaders—learn to slow down, look deeper, and have conversations that matter by turning museums into spaces for real connection. This episode is about more than art—it’s about understanding, healing, and the power of human connection.
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About Our Guest:
Sabrina Phillips is an artist, educator, and visionary who is using the power of art to help people connect, heal, and communicate about life’s most challenging topics. From middle school students to corporate teams to governmental departments, Sabrina has created a framework that transforms the way we engage with each other and the world around us.
As someone who has spent years exploring the extraordinary work of people who are quietly making our world a better place, I have to say that my conversation with Sabrina Phillips is an eye-opener that will change the way I operate in certain settings forever.
Sabrina is the founder of Equity Through Art, an initiative that uses museums and galleries as spaces for deep, meaningful conversations. At the heart of her work is a simple yet profound idea:
Art is not just something to admire, it’s a tool to help us explore who we are and how we relate to others.
Through guided sessions in front of carefully chosen artworks, Sabrina leads groups through conversations about identity, equity, and justice in ways that are transformative.
Building Bridges Through Reflection
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always been one of those people who breezes through art museums, but hearing about Sabrina’s work made me entirely rethink my approach. How long do most people spend in front of a painting? According to Sabrina, eight seconds! Her process is much longer: it involves asking people to sit with a single piece of art for 30 minutes or more.
That kind of deep focus changes everything.
Take, for example, a piece called Parade by artist Mequitta Ahuja. It’s a striking diptych featuring a powerful figure of a Black and South Asian woman in motion; Her grounded, bare feet and flowing hair seem to carry her story and strength forward, while the vibrant colors around her evoke a sense of freedom and self-possession.
Sabrina describes how her groups sit together in front of this artwork, unpacking what they see and feel. Each participant shares their reflections, and as they do, something magical happens: people begin to see themselves—and each other—in new ways.
“Everybody wants to be heard,” Sabrina told me. “When given the opportunity and the space to be vulnerable, people want to. They really do.”
Whether she’s working with students, teachers, or lawyers, this is the constant thread. Art becomes the medium through which people can express their own stories and hear the stories of others.
Sabrina’s journey to this work was anything but straightforward. She started her career in the film industry, working on blockbuster projects (like the Harry Potter films) before discovering her passion for teaching whilst living abroad. She now describes teaching as her art form; a space where creativity and collaboration come alive.
Eventually, this path led her to the world of museum education, where she realized the potential of art to foster connection and understanding.
One of Phillips’ early insights came while working with teachers of color in Austin, Texas. Many of these teachers felt alienated in museums—spaces where they rarely saw themselves reflected as subjects. For them, Sabrina’s sessions became a space for healing and empowerment, helping participants navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives.
“More than anything, these conversations are about healing,” she said. “Healing from trauma, stress, and the difficulties of the workplace.”
Creativity as a Path to Connection
Her programs have since expanded to include community leaders, social workers, corporate teams, and even lawyers; she shared a story about a group of attorneys who initially felt uncomfortable taking time away from their desks to engage in self-reflection. They felt guilty, stepping away from their desks while there were people whose futures depended on their work.
Yet, by the end of the session, they were deeply moved by the experience.
Sabrina’s work reminds us all that self-compassion is not a luxury—it’s essential. Many, many lawyers experience burnout at least once in their careers, because that guilt prevents them from ever taking time to restore their own energy, but those lawyers will do even better at their jobs because they took time to pour into themselves.
“The fact that you feel guilty for looking after yourself? That’s a huge, big problem right there,” Sabrina said.
One of the most inspiring aspects of Sabrina’s approach is the way she weaves creativity into every step of the learning process. Her recent grant-funded program, Inner Strength, Outer Impact, brought together a diverse group of community leaders—from nurses to educators to former mayors—for a day of reflection, conversation, and art-making.
Participants explored artworks, shared meals, and created their own masterpieces, and the day culminated in a collaborative poetry performance—a joyful and moving celebration of their collective journey.
As I listened to Sabrina describe her work, I couldn’t help but think about the courage it takes to step into spaces where vulnerability is required.
“We don’t invite adults to have fun that much,” Sabrina said. “But when you add an element of play, you show people that even heavy topics can lead to something invigorating and beautiful.”
Lessons for All of Us
Her mother’s advice—“Don’t sit on the fence”—is a mantra Sabrina has carried with her, and it’s one we could all benefit from. Whether it’s through art, nature, or meaningful conversation, her message is clear: slow down, get curious, and open yourself to connection.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t “get” art, Sabrina’s work will change your perspective. Art isn’t just about what you see on the canvas; it’s about what it reflects back to you, about finding yourself in the story and discovering how your story connects to others.
As Sabrina says, “We are works of art that we need to explore.”
So the next time you walk into a museum, take a moment to pause. Look at a piece of art, and instead of moving on after a few seconds, ask yourself: Where do I see myself in this? What does this make me feel?
You might just find a new way of seeing—not only the art, but the world around you.
For more about Sabrina Phillips and her incredible work, visit her website at equitythroughart.com. And the next time you’re feeling disconnected, remember that the tools for connection might be closer than you think—perhaps even hanging on the walls of your nearest museum.
References Mentioned:
Chapters:
- 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
- 06:14 – Introducing Equity Through Art
- 12:18 – Using Art to Build Trust and Connection
- 15:50 – Making Difficult Conversations Easier Through Art
- 19:48 – Finding Your True Calling in Life
- 27:31 – Break
- 29:50 – From Film Industry to Museum Education
- 35:54 – Creating Community Through Art and Poetry
- 52:33 – Final Thoughts: The Importance of Slowing Down
