Megan Stevens Montanti (LA’07) — known professionally as Megan Sara — has always felt a connection to the natural world. Interested in biology, she enrolled at Purdue in the College of Science; however, she soon realized her heart wasn’t in it. Montanti’s education prior to college had been very focused on the arts, and she was passionate about thinking and working creatively. She considered leaving the University but was impressed by the interior design program and chose to switch majors instead. “It was a much better fit — I discovered I perform best on a project-by-project basis, which is my workflow today.”
After working as an architect and a custom fabricator in the entertainment industry, Montanti began to further explore her creativity by taking on public art projects. “Each project is different, bringing its own set of challenges and rewards and providing changing context and opportunity for growth,” she says. “I am truly passionate about my work — I get to do what I love, and I’m always learning.”
These days, Montanti incorporates nature into drawings, paintings, murals, and art installations and spends her free time riding waves in the Pacific Ocean. “It’s exhilarating and cleansing to be in such a large, tumultuous body of water that changes each day,” she says. “Some days the water is full of seaweed; other days it can be a clear glassy lake. I feel very connected to the Pacific — it cycles as we do, and we dance together in this symbiotic relationship.”
That strong, symbiotic relationship with the environment is the foundation of Montanti’s art. “My work explores the lost connections to our human history and our natural world,” she says. “I believe all humans have an inherent, unconscious but ever-present connection to nature and the past. In a world that relies heavily on technology, I create work that takes us back to our collective roots and highlights environmental stewardship for our only home.”
Guiding others to meaningful revelations is one of Montanti’s talents, and she uses that skill while serving as a mentor to students. “It’s important to have someone in your corner who is looking out for your best interests, who you turn to for advice, and who will also celebrate with you,” she says. She primarily teaches teens how to think creatively, which is a novel concept for some. “I ask them to turn inwards — reflect on what they find important and what inspires them individually,” Montanti says. “I teach encouragement through artistic practice because there are no rules or wrong answers in creative expression. When we get in touch with our inner selves, we embody pride and confidence that becomes a light that others are drawn to.”
“When we get in touch with our inner selves, we embody pride and confidence that becomes a light that others are drawn to”
Montanti expresses thanks for the mentors in her own life who have aided in the development of her career — a career that, much like those Pacific waves, she’s confident will continue to change over time. “I try not to judge or anticipate the outcome of my work but rather the effort I am putting in,” she says. “I will never stop making art and look forward to painting many more murals, enhancing public space, creating educational work, and remaining as an activist for our planet.”