Artist Statement
My work is a fusion of figurative and abstract expression, inspired by my love of surfing, skateboarding, and the wild, open spirit of the West. Each painting explores the interplay of energy, emotion, and place, capturing the rhythm and spontaneity found in both motion and stillness.
I create art that carries warmth and optimism, pieces intended to uplift, encourage, and foster connection. Through custom commissions and cohesive collections, I seek to spark curiosity, invite a sense of adventure, and bring a soulful presence into the spaces my work inhabits.Through my art, I celebrate the rhythms of life, inviting viewers to experience movement, color, and emotion as gateways to seeing the world with openness and joy.
Sophia Buddenhagen is a Houston, Texas based artist who blends figurative and abstract expression with a vibrant, contemporary feel. Her work channels movement, emotion, and storytelling through dynamic shapes, layered textures, and energetic color, drawing influence from surf culture, skate culture, desert landscapes, and the rhythms of everyday life.
A graduate of the University of Houston with a BFA, Sophia creates vibrant, layered paintings that celebrate motion, color, and narrative. Inspired by her love of surfing, skateboarding, and the open spirit of the West, her work captures a sense of energy, freedom, and presence inviting viewers to experience the feeling of being fully in the moment.
Having lived in Northeast and West Africa, Europe, and the West Indies, Sophia’s global experiences have shaped a perspective that extends beyond any single place or culture. Her nomadic background continues to influence her sense of exploration and connection, with each painting becoming a visual journey an expression of movement, belonging, and the ever-evolving relationship between place and self.
Sophia works primarily in mixed media, combining acrylics, watercolors, ink, spray paint, and oil paint sticks to build texture and depth. She approaches each piece intuitively, allowing the work to unfold organically through layers of color and gesture. Her art aims to uplift, spark creativity, and encourage reflection, inviting viewers to find pieces of their own story within the work.
Beyond the studio, Sophia is passionate about using art as a tool for empowerment and healing. She has worked with at-risk teens, helping them build confidence and self-expression through creative practice. Her professional career also includes art licensing, with her work featured by global retailers including IKEA, I.O. Metro, At Home, and Living Spaces.
FAVORITES
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
M Espinosa
A commissioned Sophia to do a portrait of flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico. It is the birthplace of my father. She included my grandfather, as well as my dad‘s picture and also had me write the history of my family. She carefully added that to the painting. Her vision and creativity are God-given. Every piece of work that she creates leaves an imprint of her heart. If you can, you must invest in her work.
M Valdez
Sophia’s art is hung all throughout my home… the pieces make me feel like life is more fun when I catch glimpses of them. They are full of good energy.
I work as an interior designer and I love that Sophia is extremely professional - deadlines actually mean something to her and she is always communicative and on time! I highly recommend her!
K Gonzalez
Sophia is a great human! Humble and organic. I have more than a few of her pieces! They have a wondrous way of evoking positive and calming emotions. Plus they’re are just really pretty to look at ,
Sophia's work revitalizes you with passion and creativity. Her brilliance in combining charcoals and pastels literally makes you look at your immediate surroundings in a more present way. You start paying attention to textures and the vivid colors in your life. It is sensational to be surrounded by her work. In some peculiar way, it just makes you proud to be a Texan and makes country songs sound even better.