Sabra Crockett knew she wanted to be an artist at age 5. What was once a little girl’s dream has flourished into a world of opportunities revolving around her passion and palette, including her role as curator of Meadow Active Lifestyle Community’s art gallery.

“As a child, I was lucky to attend the New York Public School system with great teachers and opportunities to explore my love of art,” said Sabra.

After receiving a Bachelors of Fine Art from Rochester Institute of Technology, she began a 20-plus year career as a theater scenic artist which combined her love of art with a new skillset in decorative techniques. This opened the door to providing painting and decorating services to private clients and businesses. She was invited to be a member of the elite International Painting and Decorating Association that included renowned painters for the Vatican and Versailles Cathedral.

She and her husband moved to Louisville, and she started working as a scenic artist at Actor’s Theater, which opened networking opportunities with local designers and artists.

“I didn’t really think of myself as an artist,” said Sabra. I was really painting other people’s creations. When I started focusing on fine art I came to the realization that I’m an artist.”

Before becoming curator, Sabra’s art graced the walls of Meadow’s gallery.

“I shared studio space with the gallery’s first curator and she asked to display my art at Meadow,” said Sabra. “She was taking on a big project and recommended me to take her place. I live close to the campus, was familiar with the gallery and it just worked out.”

She curated her first show in July 2023.

“I work two years in advance to give the artists plenty of time to plan,” said Sabra. “My goal is to create a broader community by bringing in outside artists to engage with the residents.”

The art rotates out every three months. Her curator responsibilities include meeting the artists and looking at their work to determine what will show best in the gallery. “I think about themes, aesthetic and how the art will flow throughout the space,” Sabra noted.

She does the art installation, provides the community with the artist’s bio and photo and plans the artist’s reception. The reception allows residents and their guests an opportunity to meet the artist and learn more about their perspective and inspiration. She often discovers resident artists at the reception, or through word-of-mouth from fellow residents or Meadow employees.

Sabra’s connection to the local art community has allowed some amazing local art exhibits. She is also lucky to be surrounded with the many talented artists who reside at Masonic Homes Kentucky.

“I enjoy meeting the residents, and they love showing me their creations,” said Sabra. “I have been really impressed with the pool of talent among Masonic Homes Kentucky’s residents.”

The gallery has normally been a solo show featuring the work of one artist but her latest installation brought together Village Active Lifestyle Community resident artist Nancy Wentzel and local artist Charlotte Pollock.

After seeing Nancy’s art, Sabra thought Charlotte’s pieces would nicely compliment the exhibit. She also liked the generational component.

“I thought it would be nice to combine a more established artist like Nancy with an emerging artist like Charlotte. They have similar subject matter but communicate it in different ways.”

According to Nancy, keeping everyone happy as a curator at Meadow is something Sabra does well.  “When Meadow Executive Director Ann Rich and I discussed having my art hang again, it was with the idea that you can keep doing what you love even when your physicality is limited. I used to paint large oils so focusing on smaller paintings required less energy for older hands.” said Nancy.

Nancy continued, “When Sabra saw what I was doing with oil pastel, she was very enthusiastic and really encouraged me, knowing I needed to do quite a few.  When it came time to hang the show, I knew it would be a daunting task – fifty little paintings.  But she did it and never complained.”

Sabra attends every artist reception, and her artistic talent can be found throughout the city from murals on underpasses to restaurant buildings like Le Moo and Grassa Gramma. As a self-proclaimed bird and nature enthusiast, she is currently creating a bird saint book that will give reverence to the creatures, a little bit of scientific or historical information and a life lesson.

“Most of my inspiration comes from nature. When I start a project, I always ask myself, ‘what do we value and why do we value it.’” Sabra’s talent has definitely been an inspiration at Masonic Homes Kentucky.

February 26, 2026