Hickey’s series of female idols are inspired by images of women from a variety of contexts, histories and worlds. The complex layering of imagery and patterns depict beauty, spiritual iconography and the feminine.     

After completing bachelor degrees in fine arts and education, and then five years of teaching art in Queensland high schools, Sarah Hickey started to produce art professionally after a long hiatus from her own creative practice. She attributes her 'creative recovery' to New York artist Julia Cameron, who has mentored artists through a successful series of workshops and books.

In four years, Hickey has held eight solo shows and participated in nineteen group shows. A recent finalist in the Clayton Utz Art Awards and recipient of the WLS Sponsors Award at the Art from the HeART exhibition; her work features in Curvy magazine and the 2009 Goddess series was chosen as the brand identity for Barossa Belle wines.