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.
Bio
Sophia Buddenhagen is a Houston-based artist whose work is a fusion of figurative and abstract expression. A graduate of the University of Houston with a BFA, she creates vibrant, playful paintings that celebrate movement, color, and story. Inspired by her love of surfing, skateboarding, and the untamed spirit of the West, her pieces explore energy, emotion, and the rhythms of life.
Sophia has lived in Egypt, West Africa, Europe, and the West Indies, and her extensive travels have taken her to many countries around the world. This nomadic upbringing has given her a perspective that goes beyond any single culture or place. Having moved and traveled extensively, she does not have just one home but many, and she feels at ease wherever she is. Each painting becomes a visual journey, infused with a sense of exploration and the beauty and diversity of the world.
Her process is rooted in mixed media, including acrylics, watercolors, ink, spray paint, and oil paint sticks. Through layering and experimentation, she builds texture and depth, allowing each piece to unfold organically. Her art aims to uplift, inspire creativity, and encourage reflection, inviting viewers to connect with the world and their own experiences.
Beyond the studio, Sophia is dedicated to giving back, using art to empower at-risk teens through expression and healing. Her professional career also includes art licensin, her work has been featured in major global retailers such as IKEA, I.O. Metro, At Home, and Living Spaces.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Maria 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.
Margaray 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!
Kristen 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 ✨
Jennifer Vickers
"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