Opening Reception February 5 from 6-8PM
The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC is proud to present I AM YOU, a vibrant and deeply personal exhibition of paintings by New Jersey–based multimedia artist Tatum Sabin, currently a student at Howard University. The exhibition will be on display February 5–March 15, with an Opening Reception on Thursday, February 5, from 6–8PM. The reception is free and open to the public.
Featuring work created over the past two years, I AM YOU traces Sabin’s artistic growth through bold color, expressive mark-making, and layered materials that move fluidly between portraiture and abstraction. Faces, figures, and symbolic imagery recur throughout the work, evoking a sense of shared emotional experience while honoring the individuality of each subject. Stylized portraits coexist with patterns, florals, stitched fabrics, vinyl records, and recycled materials, creating richly layered compositions that pulse with movement and feeling.
In several works, Sabin’s lines swirl and repeat across the surface, forming energetic abstract fields that suggest rhythm, motion, and sound. These paintings resist a single narrative, instead inviting viewers to experience the emotional resonance of color, gesture, and texture.
Rooted in Sabin’s Caribbean American heritage, the exhibition celebrates Black and women’s voices, highlighting themes of beauty, resilience, vulnerability, and joy. Whether through a direct, steady gaze in her portraits or through immersive, all-over compositions, Sabin’s work creates a space where identity feels layered, dynamic, and alive.
Gallery Curator Jeremy Moss notes, ‘Tatum’s work comes from a really genuine place. She believes art should be accessible, joyful, and rooted in community, and you can feel that in every piece. I AM YOU captures her growth over the past two years—her willingness to experiment, to play, and to use her voice to celebrate Black and women’s experiences in a way that feels honest and welcoming.’”
Through fearless experimentation and a commitment to sustainability and play, I AM YOU offers a compelling snapshot of an emerging artist in motion. The exhibition invites audiences to slow down, take in the layers, and—reflecting the exhibition’s title—recognize themselves within the energy, emotion, and connection that run throughout the work.
ARTIST BIO
Tatum Sabin is a multimedia artist from Orange, New Jersey. She is currently a student at Howard University, where she studies Painting with a minor in Psychology. Sabin has exhibited artwork throughout the East Coast—including New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.—as well as internationally in Sint Maarten and the Netherlands.
A natural-born artist, Sabin’s earliest memories are rooted in time spent at an easel or in art classes, where her instinct for creativity and experimentation first took shape. Her practice often incorporates recycled materials, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and intentional making.
Drawing inspiration from her Caribbean American heritage, Sabin’s work centers on community, identity, and Black creative joy. Through bold color, layered materials, and expressive imagery, she seeks to create artwork that feels accessible, celebratory, and deeply connected to shared experience.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Exhibition: I AM YOU
Artist: Tatum Sabin
Venue: The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery at SOPAC
On View: February 5–March 15
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 5 | 6–8PM (Free & open to the public)