Art & Life with Sofia Porzio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Porzio.

Sofia, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was always interested in art, since I was in elementary, with the help of my first art teacher. She pushed me within the class during first grade to fourth grade. Then, in fifth grade, my teacher was replaced, by my past Language Art’s Teacher, who didn’t particularly like me before. That year was absolute hell, as this new art teacher, lost and ruined the art I did make. Instead of being in her class, I would be in the principle’s office crying, telling stories of how I would be the only student’s work, who would go ” missing” or would get damaged by random paint splatters over the work, or even tears and rips that would appear on the paper. Needless to say, the contrast of being supported by the previous educator, then to get bashed and looked down upon by then the newer teacher, was quite traumatic to both my confidence as a young artist and as a child in general. Her biggest impact on my life was when the middle school application season came around. I was interested in this one middle school that was advertised by my teacher for the arts, visual included. I was the only student she didn’t recommend. I didn’t get into that school. Instead, I went to a Cambridge Robotics Programming and Engineering school. Quite the opposite of anything art related. Not to mention the fact that the school itself didn’t offer an art class, only a creative writing class, which I took during my last year there. Before my last year there, during the summer of seventh going into eighth, I took a four-week art summer camp. It was then that I learned about the option of going to an art high school. I never considered that as by that point I haven’t made art for a solid two years. My passion was lost. I was told about schools like ” D.A.S.H” and the New World.

The thought of studying art gave me the flicker of hope and focus that I desperately needed. So I set the goal of applying. I had to create Twelve art pieces, and a full sketchbook as my portfolio to audition. This was a major feat, as I had four, to five months to produce something that most kids got three years to work on. I wasn’t alone although, as I had a Mentor, who was a friend of my Mom’s, who is an art teacher that I would visit every few weeks. Mr. Ramsey would give me a portfolio review, as we discussed what I should work on in my portfolio. He focused me towards my goal. Eventually, my time was up as I had to audition on my 14th birthday for these art schools, which involve an in-person evaluation of my portfolio, as well as conducting three observation drawings on site. I was waitlisted for four out of five schools. It wasn’t until Memorial weekend that I was finally accepted into D.A.S.H. I was the first student from my middle school to get accepted, as well as the only student who went. A 20% chance of getting in, change my life. Fast forward to now, I’m currently in my Junior year, having classes of my major of Industrial Design, Transportation Design, and Fine Art. Although I study those classes, my passion is for Photography, which I discovered and truly invested myself into a year ago. I think it’s because of everything that I’ve been through, that life has to lead me to find my love for taking Portraits. It is the people in my life, both good and bad, who have influenced me to the person I am today. I am proud of the person I am and the work I create. To be an influence, and to have an effect. I realized that when I saw my name printed on the Cover of Ambush Magazine’s first issue, which states that both the cover and back have been “Photographed by Sofia Porzio.” My biggest accomplishment so far.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I take unique stylized photos of people, Hours of sitting down, standing up, turning to the side, while changing my settings and clicking the button to focus. My messages differentiate with every three picture “series.” Ranging from subjects about death, the power of emotions, even the embrace of beauty marks. I don’t stick to one thing. Photography is a medium that I use to explore different subjects, discussing things that are important to me and should be talked about. I’m inspired by the idea of telling a visual story that can make my audience FEEL something when looking at it. Whether it is because of my use of lighting to create shadows that have a hard contrast, or the composition, I want my viewer to be at awe. This goal makes me super hard on myself, as I put myself at a high level to feel satisfied as to what I put out, It takes me weeks to produce something, because of the process I tend to go through to make sure, that even before the editing, that I am proud of that image. I want my viewers to know that I usually work on things alone, creating the concept, taking the photos and editing it individually, unless its a rare collaboration with another visionary. That I have manifestations of concepts of ideas that I take very seriously, to come to life. In a way, my photos are stills of daydreams that I have.

What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I think that artists have a very important role of spreading messages visually. This has been very obvious in art history. We express our own opinion on social, political, and even environmental issues. We are writers that have no words; we are musicians that have no notes to play; we are people that want to produce something that could tell a story with colors, shapes, and lines. What is going on in the world, effects my world, emotionally more than ever? When something traumatic occurs in the nation, I feel this sense of tension, tension about something that either needs to be discussed or to be expressed. For example. Upon reading an article on how suppressed men feel when communicating their emotions, specifically black men, I realized that I needed to speak upon that subject. That emotions are not a sign of weakness, and that being a “man” doesn’t mean you have to suppress it. What you feel, what anyone feels, is valid. Regardless of gender. We have emotions for a reason, and that in itself is golden.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
As I am very involved in the local art scene community, I tend to showcase my photography prints at local events all over Miami. I post about the events I’m featured at, all over my social media. If you can’t see my work in person, I would recommend going to my website, where I showcase my portfolio as well. There is also an Info tab, where you can get into contact with me directly as well as a Store, where anyone can buy my prints at whatever size.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.porziophotos.com/
• Email: porziophotos@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/porziophotos

Image Credit:
Blue Photo of Sofia Porzio by Ig @Makeouthillxx

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