The Art of Sophia Dawson

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1. How have you and your work grown since our last interview in 2006?
Art IS a growing experience so myself and my work has definitely grown and changed. For one I paint larger (at least 6ft in height) for each piece. With more time and practice my style has definitely changed and I have developed new techniques in approaching each piece. I am able to work both from life and photography now and am using these aspects in all of my latest work. Most importantly I am beginning to develop a sort of narrative and story behind my work that means something to me. Before I was just making paintings to please other people.

2. Describe your most exciting, challenging, and worthwhile experiences at the School of Visual Arts?
This semester at least once a week my class of about seven students spend our three hours walking around new york city and looking at art in galleries/ museums/ etc. It put me in the position to finally begin to pay attention the prospering artists of my time. I have been exposed to so many different possibilities of what art is and can become. I am also now able to appreciate different artists of different genres and backgrounds.

3. What are your goals after graduation from SVA?
After graduating from SVA I plan to get my Masters in Fine Arts and also to do commission work making large powerful murals in public and popular spaces. INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

4. What was your inspiration for Wet Paint? What was your experiences at the opening?
Wet paint is a dedication to my God Mother Leslie Macayza Wages. She was a beautiful and well respected model of the eighties and also one of my role models. Unfortunately about three years ago she was incarcerated and the work deals with both her and my struggle as a growing woman. Though Leslie is locked up, in her mind she is FREE.”as free as she has ever been”. WET PAINT deals with the idea that this woman’s life is not over, but has rather just begun. The paint is still wet.

5. How do you see your work evolving within the next five years?
Within the next five years I see myself continuing to paint and using other women and men that inspire me and motivate me to do my best in life. I will begin to incorporate photography, video, and the digital world into my art to allow it to grow and become more than just paint on a canvas.

6. How do you see you work influencing others?

The message behind my work is definitely my key weapon in influencing others. My goal is to change the lives and minds of people so that they can understand that their destiny is not left up to chance but it is a matter of choice.