Artist Feature: Sofiya Kuzmina
“The sense of belonging in the context of immigration.”
Finding one’s place in the world can be a difficult and ever shifting journey, especially for those who are transplanted from one culture and country to somewhere entirely different. Sofiya Kuzmina’s richly detailed work highlights the dissonance of an immigrant’s experience through her series “Belonging”. From Moscow to Miami to New York- with the possibility of Thailand in the mix- Kuzmina’s oil paintings pull aspects of multiple locations and sensations together into stunningly colorful pieces. Her triptych “Breath Whisper Wind” captures small intimate moments universal to any location, while her latest pieces – “Happy (?)” and “Citrus Fever” – demonstrate her impressive skill as an artist while highlighting her New York City experience.
From the Artist:
Art is Sofiya Kuzmina’s way of communicating stories independent of the need for words. She has developed a personal vision based on intimate moments of her life as a means to draw commentary about complex yet commonly relatable ideas. Some examples from recent bodies of work include questioning the definition of art by finding artistic processes in everyday life, defining the impact art has on the creator, and discussing the sense of belonging in the context of immigration. Creating images layered with narratives helps Kuzmina to escape the limits of speaking language. Experimental and dynamic, her work captures situations that invite the audience to explore and question how the story and their interpretation of it are related to themselves. Her main source of inspiration is the process of creating itself: she considers every new piece an opportunity to challenge her skills, escape from the comfort zone, and find the best way to convey an idea or a story.
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Sofiya was born in Moscow in 1998 and is currently based in New York City where she attends the School of Visual Arts majoring in illustration.