31 Pairs by Carolyn Macartney 🎨

Jul 6, 2025, 1:42 PM•sabah

Good Morning Sabah People,

We are so excited to introduce the first edition of our Sabah Artist Series with friend and renowned sign painter, Carolyn Macartney (IG).

Carolyn is an abstract expressionist artist who founded her way to sign painting over a decade ago. Based in Marfa, Texas at the time, she’s responsible for almost every hand-painted sign in town (and the area), from the 60 foot J&J Steel Co sign in Odessa, Texas to all sorts of hand-painted letters, symbols and more at the iconic El Cosmico.

For this first edition of our Sabah Artist Series, she applied her craft to 31 pairs of Sabahs — painting travel phrases on each pair, one at a time. A labor of love, it took her 3-4 hours per Sabah applying multiple coats by hand and by eye.

With no color & phrase combination repeated, each pair in this collection is truly one-of-a-kind.

Now available on the Sabah Portal!

Sincerely,

The Sabah Dealer
--

Only 31 Pairs Painted.

“These Sabahs are nice objects … little works of art themselves.”

SHOP THE SERIES

Meet Carolyn.

"I love sign painting and the culture around it. They are down to earth and don’t take themselves too seriously but are amazing artists. We have this phrase that sums it up well: I J A F S — It’s Just A Fucking Sign."

Carolyn Macartney has worn many creative hats—filmmaker, photographer, professor — but it’s her hand-painted signs that have us hooked.

After years behind the camera (and in front of the classroom), she moved to Marfa, Texas, where a simple desire to paint again turned into nearly a decade of sign work across the town. From The Paper Place to Do Your Thing Coffee and Marfa Wine Co., Carolyn left her mark on some of the area’s most beloved spots — one bold brushstroke at a time.

Rooted in old-school techniques and a love for vintage lettering, her signs are playful, graphic, and unmistakably hers. Now based in Joshua Tree, Carolyn’s work continues to evolve, blending photography, painting, and surface manipulation to create cinematic, design-forward compositions.

Having lived in five countries—and just as many U.S. states— she brings a global, ever-evolving perspective to everything she creates.

Her Process.

"Painting on shoes …it’s a 3D object, so doing lettering on a curved surface was pretty interesting geometrically. I did it all by eye. The process took 3-4 hours per pair, over 100 hours in total. I had to do so many coats of paint. It was a process. I hope folks know how much went into each pair!"

Our collaboration with Carolyn came from a shared love of handmade design and the stories it can tell. Together, we reimagined a collection of Sabahs through her vibrant brushwork—each pair featuring playful, travel-inspired words and phrases that reflect the spirit of adventure, friendship, and joy at the heart of our brand.

Each pair was painted by hand and by eye at Carolyn's studio in Joshua Tree. She used a special leather paint, applying multiple coats to achieve the vibrant colors and sharp lettering design.

The Finished Artwork.

"I hope when people choose a pair, and a specific phrase - it has a positive meaning to them at this specific time in their life. And as they wear them, no matter where they are - it takes that memory & meaning forward with them!”

Where to Next?

That's Alex & Leila at Sabah House Amagansett. Summer is officially in full swing Out East. Come visit!

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The Sabah Dealer 56 Bleecker Street New York, New York 10012

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