Sophie LaBell

Artist Statement

Sophie LaBell is an abstract artist who utilizes acrylic, marker, and pen to create vibrant paintings and drawings. Sophie creates detailed lines and shapes that bleed off the edges of her works on paper. Vibrant neon palettes create a visual vibration, suggesting microscopic change and movement. Her process is intuitive– no sketching or planning– each mark responding to the one before it, growing like cells dividing: unpredictable, interconnected and alive. After being diagnosed with Chronic Lyme disease in 2022, Sophie became fascinated with the unseen anatomy of the body: mast cells, spike proteins, the tangled architecture of nerves. Sophie’s work is grounded in both personal experience and biological curiosity. Her drawings and paintings transform this hidden biology into color, rhythm and energy– stemming from the belief that what exists inside us can be made visual.

Sophie LaBell received her BFA in Graphic Design from School of Visual Arts in 2017. With a focus on design for social change, she has designed for dozens of political candidates running for office. These projects have included brand identities, digital and print assets, and visual campaigns for political candidates and social causes across the United States. Alongside her experience in design, Sophie has maintained a lifelong commitment to drawing and visual art. Coursework in anatomy, medical terminology and public health expanded her understanding of the body and its complexities– insights that deeply inform her studio practice. She is actively engaged in arts organizations throughout New Jersey, where she is continuously evolving her work at the intersection of art, science, and personal narrative.