Issue 3 Artist Spotlight | Sofya Mirvis
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Sofya!
SM: I tend to think of myself as working in two careers. Although I would love to make art full time, I also love my career of being a nonprofit director. I get to give back to the people who are in need, designing and providing vital programming and services to them. I use a lot of creativity in my job and am slowly working towards my two passions becoming one in the future.
C+B: How has your relationship with your work changed since you first started creating?
SM: I stumbled a lot to really “find my style,” even through grad school. Realizing that this wasn’t getting me anywhere, my motto in recent years has been “Make what you want to see in the world.” By following this, my work has become much more intuitive, and I stopped placing such emphasis on style. I now truly enjoy the process because I attune myself with my intuition beforehand. Because of this, there is less perfectionism, worry, and roadblocks - I’m free to just create!
C+B: Share some details about your process for creating.
SM: I love this question! I have a coffee cup that says “studio time is my happy place.” I grab my cup, get some matcha, and go in the studio anytime I can make it there! It may be morning, evening, weekend, holiday, you name it. I definitely dance around to music while painting as well - good thing no one can see that!
C+B: What is the one accomplishment you most hope to achieve in your creative career?
SM: If I could make a lasting contribution to the history of women artists, to continue telling our collective story inclusive of all people, and to shine a light on our environment in the process, I will have accomplished my goal. The other accolades are nice, but the achievement of art touching lives is priceless.
Find and support Sofya here:
IG: @sofyaspace
(In the Grass, 8" x 10," collage and acrylic on panel, ©Sofya Mirvis)
If my work was a meal it would be: I am completely inspired by the show “Chef’s Table,” where meals are art. I strive for my art to be like these meals: raw, refined, calm, daring. Lots of tastes, feelings and emotions in one piece.
I would love to be able to share my work with: Marilyn Minter - I’ve always been such a fan of her work! Also Wangechi Mutu - love, love her work as well.
If I were ever to work in another media, I would choose: I am always curious about other media. I always wanted to try out encaustic, as well as media that are further away from my practice such as ceramics or glass.
My hope for those viewing my work: I truly hope that people see the joy, passion and movement that I feel when making the work. Knowing that this work will live in homes and public spaces, I hope it will inspire creativity when someone walks by a piece. If they choose to stand and stare, there is a lot for them to see and meditate on. I hope they stir up some emotion but leave the viewer with a calm feeling at the end.
