Sophia Buddenhagen photo by Amil Velasquez

ARTIST STATEMENT

I found my love for art when I was young, growing up in a Greek-American family and exploring the world. I had the chance to live in stunning places such as Egypt, West Africa, Europe and the West Indies To name a few. Nature, surfing, and the local cultures I encountered during my travels have always been a great source of inspiration for me. Due to my nomadic upbringing, I find it difficult to associate myself with just one place or culture. Instead, I see myself constantly embarking on a journey, and my art serves as a reflection of that journey. In my artistic process, I often begin with Journaling or just draw patterns, random words, numbers, and letters, layering them with various colors using different mediums. Sometimes, an image emerges from the background, while other times, the work remains abstract. I strive to achieve a sense of balance in my art, both visually and emotionally. What I truly enjoy about creating art is witnessing how others react to my pieces and how they can connect with them, transporting themselves to different parts of the world or reliving a specific moment in time.

Sophia was born to Greek American parents in Germany. Sophia currently resides in Houston, Texas where she studied at the University of Houston and earned her BFA degree in 2000. Sophia’'s travels and life experiences are reflected in her Abstract and Surf inspired art. Each painting consists of color, words, letters, numbers and familiar imagery. She uses mixed media such as acrylic, water color, spray paint, ink and oil paint sticks to enhance the visual multiple layers and textural aspects of her paintings. Sophia believes art is a way to help people expand upon their creativity and to become more aware of their world and people around them.

"Buddenhagen, who received her BFA from University of Houston in 2000, draws on travel and life experiences in creating mixed media canvases with a distinctive “surf art” style. Her layered graphic elements bring to mind features of street art, though authentic renderings of sea birds and playful depictions of other animals add stratum of visual interest to the works. Buddenhagen’s abstract canvases often incorporate her trademark textures and vibrate with the energy of broad, warm spectrum color palettes."

Jennifer Vickers -curator

Upcoming Shows

2024 The $100 Box Show, Nov 30th 1-5pm , 1218 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX

Past Exhibitions

2023 Surf Art Exhibition, Southern Spears Surf Shop, Galveston TX

2021 Galveston Art Walk, The Marmo Plaza, Galveston TX

2020 Solo Show Surfside Series, Market Station, Galveston TX

2018 Surfing as an Art, Southern Spears Surf Shop, Galveston TX

2018 Treasures by The Sea, Surfside TX

2018 Falling Tide Music Festival, Texas City TX

2018 Reflections of Bali Drink of Ages 1005 Waugh Dr. Houston TX

2018 Q2 GALLERY 2208 Post Office St. Galveston TX

2018 Reflections of Bali Q2 Gallery, 2208 Post Office St. Galveston TX

2018 Group show, The Strand Gallery, Galveston TX

2017 7th Annual Surfing as an Art Show, Southern Spears Surf Shop, Galveston TX

2017 Solo Show Drink of Ages Pub 1005 Waugh Dr. Houston TX

2017 Sophia and Gabriel Collaborations Arts on Mechanic, Galveston, TX
2017 Red Thread G. Lee Gallery, 2215 Post Office St. Galveston, TX

2016 Sophia and Gabriel Collaborations Public House Heights, Houston, TX
2016 Surf's Up Southern Spears, Galveston TX
2016 Beach Vibes Drink of Ages Pub, Houston TX
2016 Sophia and Gabriel Collaborations Public House Heights, Houston, TX
2016 New Works Starstruck Gallery, Kemah, TX
2016 Sabuduria May 26th Public House Heights, Houston, TX
2016 A Matter of Colour The Next Door, Houston, TX

2015 Group Show Katy Contemporary Art Museum, Katy, TX

2014 Surfing as an Art, Texas Surf Co, Galveston, TX
2014 Texas Surfrider Soundwaves, Houston, TX
2014 No Destination Liberty Station, Houston, TX
2014 HMM Launch Party Hardy & Nance Studios, Houston, TX
2014 Spring Show Hardy & Nance Studios, Houston, TX

2013 PAWS for a PURRpose Gala Houston, TX
2013 No Destination Solo Show Public House Heights, Houston, TX
2013 Ground Swell,Texas Surf Museum, Corpus Christi, TX
2013 Texas Top Thirty Exhibition, Art on 5th, Austin, TX
2013 PAWS for a PURRpose Launch Party South Texas College of Law, Houston TX
2013 The Rock Trust Postcard Exhibition, Castle Fine Art, Edinburgh Scottland
2013 Jomar Visions Group Show Hardy & Nance Studios, Houston, TX

2012 Surfing As An Art Southern Spears Surf, Galveston TX
2012 Artwalk 22nd and Postoffice, Galveston TX
2012 Bridging the Gap Skin Gallery, Houston TX
2012 2nd Anual Luau The Usual, Houston TX
2012 Vibrant Wave Public House Heights, Houston, TX

2012 Artwalk 22nd and Postoffice, Galveston TX
2012 Have Camera, Will Travel, House of Rock, Corpus Christi Tx
2012 Perfect 10's WAR'HOUS Visual Studios, Houston TX
2012 Activate Stereo Live, Houston TX

2011 Tangerine Boutique, Galveston TX
2011 West Houston Jazz Festival, Katy TX
2011 Lilith Spring, Laura U Collection Houston TX
2011 Chocolates by Mark, La Porte, TX
2011 Luau, The Usual,Houston, TX
2011 eCity Social, Houston TX

2010 Boarded Up The Art of Surf and Skate Gallery M Squared, Houston TX
2010 Texas Music Project Agave Rd, Katy TX
2010 Artwalk 22nd and Postoffice, Galveston TX
2010 Artwalk 22nd and Postoffice, Galveston TX
2010 Groupshow, V Gallery, Katy TX
2010 Sutherland Law Firm, Houston, TX
2010 6x6x2010-You Asked For It RCAC, Rochester, NY

2010 The Traveler Within, V Gallery, Katy TX

2009 Art Box Year 6, Dec. 4th 2009, Bering & James Gallery, Houston, TX
2009 Mod Coffee House, October 3rd 2009, Galveston, TX
2009 Mod Coffee House, August 28th 2009, Galveston, TX
2009 Bacchus Wine Bar , August 22nd 2009, Galveston, TX
2009 Cinco, Bering and James Gallery, Houston, Tx
2009 Texas Surfrider 10 Year Anniversary, St. Arnold's Brewery, Houston, TX
2009 Neo Contemporary, Galleria Lazzara, Houston, TX
2009 The Ohana Art Show, Ohana Surf & Skate, Galveston, TX

2008 The Art Box Year 5, Bering & James Gallery, Houston, TX
2008 Johnny Romano Tribute, Continental Club, Houston, TX
2008 Structure Bering and James Gallery, Houston, TX
2008 Cinco August 18th 2008 Bering and James Gallery, Houston, TX
2008 Bacchus Wine Bar, Galveston, TX
2008 Art In The Park, July 5th 2008, Galveston, TX
2008 Art In The Park, June 21st 2008, Galveston, TX
2008 Art In The Park, May 31st 2008, Galveston, TX
2008 Circa 67 Ohana Surf & Skate, , Galveston, TX

2007 Texas Surfrider Group Show, Oct 2007, Houston, Tx

1997 Cloister Galley Group Show, Jan 1997, Houston, Tx

Gallery Representation
Bering Art Collective
Katy Artreach
Bering and James Gallery

SHOPS (Current and Past)

Allmodern

Amazon

Ashley Furniture

At Home

Better Homes and Gardens

Beso

Billiard Factory

Culture Coffee, Surfside Texas