CREATIVE DISCIPLINE-
Installation, Painting, Sculpture
PRIMARY MEDIUM(S)-
Ceramic
ARTIST STATEMENT-
I am a multidisciplinary artist in Brooklyn, New York. All of my artistic and creative work pertains to human life, society and nature. My work is influenced by organic materials and nature. It comes from my origin story that I was born and raised in the countryside of Japan surrounded by mountains, green tea fields, and the Pacific Ocean. I was familiar with amphibians, fishes and small animals such as frogs, snakes, lizards, moss, and insects. I drew lines and shapes of small creatures and natural elements such as the wind, plants and the ocean. For my abstract landscape, I drew those shapes and lines using oil or acrylic on canvas. I am also influenced by my father and brother who are scientists. During my childhood, my father took me on field trips or visited his lab every Saturday. He had been warning and talking about the quality of water. Because of the process of gentrification, the water was polluted and we were no longer drinking the spring water. On the other hand, my brother showed me how to take care of his pet, African Clawed Frogs. In my frog pieces, I integrated both memories. Those frogs are not only whimsical but a barometer of water. I created a fantasy world “froggiesvillage” since 2020. Also my interest in making installations is due to my desire to engage viewers in all of their senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch and sometimes even taste. I also enjoy making installations because there are many possibilities to incorporate all kinds of media.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY-
Sophia Chizuco is a multidisciplinary artist in Brookly, born in Japan. She earned her B.A. in Art and Education from Tokyo Gakugei University. In 2000, she moved to NY to study abstract paintings at the Art Students League of NY and earned a certificate in painting for her studies. She has been selected as a leader for “Hospital-Based Community Murals Project“ at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine program. She was also selected for projectart, art and social practice in Cypress Hills library and SU-CASA, artist-in-residence in Young Israel Senior Center. She held origami workshops at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and National Yiddish Theatre. Her latest collaboration with not-for-profit Norte Maar, she created ballet dancer’s costumes and stage art installations for a theater. Chizuco had been a mentor at the Immigrant Artist Program, the New York Foundation for the Arts. Currently She holds family workshops with NARS Foundation. She received the grand prize from ArtNetwork and a merit scholarship from the Art Students League of NY. The artist has exhibited nationally and internationally at the Staten Island Museum, New York Hall of Science, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Japan), Makati Shangri-La Hotel (Philippines).
Sophia Chizuco Brooklyn, NY