Sophia Lacroix

Artist Statement

Born and raised in Haiti, the artist migrated to Florida, U.S. A. at 15 in 1984 where she has since lived. They earned a BS in Nutrition from UF in 1992 and have since worked in social services full-time while working part-time as a self-taught artist. The artist creates bright, hyper-realistic oil paintings and charcoal drawing scenes-of-everyday-life about nostalgic memories of Haiti. The artist has earned numerous awards and published in various books and magazines. They have created and sold hundreds of oil paintings and charcoal drawings in a nearly 30-year art career, including a 6-foot by 9-foot mural commissioned in 2008 by the City of Miami and on permanent display on the southeast wall of the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami. The artist is one of five artists selected in 2021 by the City of North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency U-Wrap NoMi Art in Public Places Initiative through which utility boxes throughout the city will be transformed into beautiful works of art by being vinyl wrapped with designs created by the artist.
In their works, the artist uses powerful imagery and strong colors to convincingly portray the strength and bravery of the Haitian people, as well as the innocence and playfulness of children. In nearly three decades of painting professionally, the artist has developed a loyal following of local, international, and famous collectors. Their works of art have been exhibited in group and solo shows in cities throughout the eastern and central United States, including New York, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Tallahassee, Orlando, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Also, the artist's images have been published in several magazines, books, and newspaper articles, including the book published in 2009 "Here, There... and Beyond: The Work of 16 Haitian Artists of Florida". In 2007, the artist was honored as "Artist of the Year" by the City of North Miami, in celebration of The Seventh Haitian Cultural Heritage Month Celebration, for which they created a unique painting published as "Poster of the Year". To commemorate this event, the artist was awarded a show at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in North Miami and received several awards from local municipalities and dignitaries, including one from U.S. Congressman Kendrick Meek. In 2008, the artist was one of six artists selected and commissioned by the City of Miami to create a mural for the new Little Haiti Cultural Complex. In 2017, they were commissioned to create a unique painting titled "NeighborhoodHELP-Respect, Collaboration, Tolerance" by Dr. Pedro Greer, then Chair of the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine's Department of Humanities, Health, and Society. The artist is honored that this painting is on exhibit on the first floor of the FIU College of Medicine building located on the Modesto Maidique Campus in Sweetwater, Florida.
The artist's oil painting, "Bay Tete", won "Best in Show" at the City of Pembroke Pines' 17th Annual ART Competition in 2022. Later that year, the artist was selected from 349 applicants as the winner of a solo exhibit in the Fall of 2023 from the Art and Culture Center/Hollywood's 2022 Florida Biennial: “Installations, Portraiture, Materiality, and Magic Realism”, a competitive show juried by Ylva Rouse, Senior Curator at MOCA Jacksonville. The solo exhibit, "Vivid Caribbean Nostalgia", in Fall 2023, revealed highly detailed portraiture of people in everyday routines and activities inspired by the artist's memories of Haiti. In February 2024, during their NoMi Evening of Honors, the City of North Miami's Mayor Alix Desulme and City Council celebrated the artist as one of ten South Florida modern history makers and community builders who make an impact beyond their specific industry. The artist and beloved spouse are parents to their daughter who has inspired several of the artist's paintings. The artist is a resident of the City of Hollywood, Florida. One cannot help but be captivated by the artist's realistic imagery on canvas.