A Wonder-full World by Sophia

Location: The Community Art Gallery in the Kelly Education Center (included with Garden admission)

Sophia is a 21-year-old woman with Down syndrome who lives life out loud and in vibrant color. She has studied Chinese brushstroke/Sumi-e watercolor painting for several years. More recently, she’s begun to explore acrylic painting, pottery, and collages — as well as helping to create murals in her community. Sophia’s paintings have been displayed at the Chinese American Museum DC and the Artists4ERA campaign. She’s been the featured solo artist for shows at Capitol One headquarters, Children’s National Medical Center, the Pozez Jewish Community Center, the Fredericksburg Area Museum, and the Kennedy Center.

Sophia’s paintings capture the vivid and vibrant wonder of the world around her. Birds, flowers, and animal friends leap out to grab our attention. When asked about her art, Sophia says, “It makes me happy. I like feeling professional, proud, strong, and confident when I make art.” Sophia says she wants people to make friends with her art. She takes pride in showing the greater world that people with an intellectual disability contribute a lot to their communities and can do great things when they have no limits and more opportunities.