SOPHIA DAWSON
Let Freedom Ring
June 17th - July 17th
527 W 29th st, Remington, Baltimore MD 

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We walk around with their faces on our T-shirts, wearing their sacrifice as fashion statements, I wanted to do more! - Sophia Victor

 Sophia Victor (formely known as Dawson makes her Baltimore debut at the Raunjuba Design Center with her latest exhibition "Let Freedom Ring",  For over a decade, Sophia has dedicated her art practice as a platform for activism through exploring issues of criminal justice, police brutality and mental health awareness. On display will be a selection of powerul portraits depicting from political prisoner, activists, and iconic figures. Through her larger-than-life portraits, Sophia humanizes the stories and people that others would try and papint as anaimals. Through her art Dawson calls attention to their continued imprisonment, while advocating for their freedom. Dedicating her life's work to exposing the stories and experiences of these individuals as they strive to overcome injustice. Endeavoring to tell diverse stories. Sophia embraces narratives of determination, joy, struggle, faith, and purpose.

​Sophia is a master at using unconventinal meterials paired with traditional styles of painting. This versatile technique creates strikingly vibrant subjects. Gold leaf, mustard seeds, and diamond dust are used generously on the canvas, as Sophia honors the materials' richness through their placement within the artworks. Revered as a precious medium, gold leaf symbolies the "anointing of the Holy Spirit" and the mustard seed represents "Faith", while also speaking to the artist own spirtual beliefs. Deep layers of diamond dust adorn the works, mimicking the sheen and luster of curly hair, while also representing the "glory" achieved in fight for justice. Broken chain-links are also used to resemble hair coils but mainly symbolizes a deliverance from bondage. Many of the works exhibited feature current or formerly incarcerated political prisoners, thus the chain-links takes on a dual meaning of delivarance.

​Diverse hues and textures radiate throughout the exhibiion as they have become synonmyous within the acclaimed artist's catalogue. Coined "Brownsville Blue", Sophia uses vibrant hues to express the love dand sense of community she felt growing up in Brooklyn. Sophia works comfortable within collage, often utilizing photocopies of passages from the BIble or from her correspondennce letters(handwritten letters between the artist and incarcerated political activists). African farics are also woven into the background for many of her portraits both literally and allegorically as they often have their own meanings. The ritual of collaging these materials within Sophia's work, plays an integral role to her practice as it marries her artistic, spiritual and political journey.
 

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527 W 29th Remington, Baltimore

527 W 29th st 
Baltimore, MD 21211
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info@bishoponbedford.com

Hours: By appointment

Artist

Sophia Victor

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