Local artist Sophia Pineda once again has earned national recognition for her artwork.
Sophia Pineda with her pieces on exhibit at the Kennedy Center.
Pineda, 21, was named one of 15 artists featured in Catalyst, an exhibit presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Access/VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program.
This national art career development program and exhibition features works by artists ages 16-25, with disabilities, to amplify each artist’s unique talent, mode of expression, and view of the world.
This year’s theme, Catalyst, invited artists to explore how the intersection of their art and their disability identity sparks something new.
Pineda, a James Monroe High School alumna with Down syndrome, lives life “out loud and in vibrant color,” per her artist bio. She has studied Chinese brushstroke and sumi-e watercolor painting for several years and has recently begun to explore acrylics, pottery and collages. The daughter of Andre and Carol Kando-Pineda, she is known in the region for her work on several murals and her community involvement.
This Kennedy Center national juried exhibition recognizes artwork that demonstrates the excellence and important perspectives of artists with disabilities residing in the United States. Artists each receive a $3,000 award, engage in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center, and have their submitted work featured in an exhibition open until July 27.
“Art makes me happy. I like feeling professional, proud, strong, and confident when I make art,” Pineda said in her artist statement. She sees the world as “full of wonderful and happy surprises. Art can show people how to be strong and how to treat others. Art can show you how to love.”
The Pineda family at the Kennedy Center exhibit opening.
Her paintings have been displayed at the Chinese American Museum and the Artists 4 ERA 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 a forthcoming exhibit at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
According to her family, Pineda doesn’t talk a lot about her inspiration except to say she loves bright colors and usually she wants to make paintings that make her feel “happy.” She often likes to juxtapose colors in unexpected ways and she takes great pride in her art and the fact that she makes the decisions about its creation.
See more at her website or on her social media (IG: @sososophiola and FB: @Sophiola321).
Disclaimer: Andre Pineda serves on the board of the Fredericksburg Free Press.
Sophia Pineda’s watercolors on rice paper are on display in the Kennedy Center through the end of July.
