About Sophia Buddenhagen Surf and Lifestyle Art SoBudd

ARTIST STATEMENT

My journey as an artist began at a young age growing up in a Greek-American family and living off the coast of West Africa. My inspiration comes from my travels, nature, surf and local culture. Since I was constantly traveling as a child, I don’t really identify with one place or culture. I am on a constant journey and my art is a product of that journey. Some call my work Surf Art, Beach Art, Yoga Art and more. To me it is a combination of my emotions, what I am going through at the time. My process usually starts with patterns, words, numbers, letters, and multiple layers of color washes using various mediums. Sometimes an image evolves from the background and sometimes the work is left abstract. I love creating local beach imagery in Texas as well as imagery inspired from my travels. The best part of being an artist is seeing someone feel a connection with a piece knowing that it takes them somewhere or back to a moment in time and that is what I love about art.

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

Shops where you can find Sophia's Work

Galveston Surf Shops

Southern Spears Surf 6026 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77551

Ohana Surf and Skate 2814 Avenue R 1/2, Galveston, TX 77550

Surfside Surf Shops

Surf Station 402 Murex Street surfside, tx

Surfside Loco 1306 Bluewater Highway Surfside, TX

Rise surf Co 106 Dixie Drive Clute, TX

Houston Surf Shops

Surfhouse 1737w34 Th St, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77018

Past Exhibitions

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)
Ikea (Worldwide)
Winners (Canada)
IO Metro
Billiard Factory
Living Spaces
KolaBoutique Spring, TX
Tangerine Boutique Galveston, Texas
Mike Doyle Custom Surfboards, Corpus Christi, TX
Surf House 1Houston, TX
Ohana Surf and Skate Galveston, TX
Island Bicycle Company Galveston, Texas 77550
Southern Spears Surf Shop Galveston TX
DenyDesigns
Etsy
Society6
Sandalista
Sears
Amazon