Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Del Rivero.
Hi Sofia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember, and ever since I was a little girl, my dream was always to create and sell art professionally. From 2014 to 2024, I ran my own art school in Miami called Art Box, where I taught hundreds of students of all ages. I loved building that business and sharing my passion for art with others.
Over the last few years, though, my personal life shifted in a profound way. Within just a few weeks, I became a mother and also lost my own mother. That experience deeply changed me and created a strong need to reconnect with my personal art practice. Creating became both a therapeutic outlet and a way for me to process such an emotional period in my life.
I feel incredibly grateful that I’m now able to focus fully on creating and sharing my work with the world. Over the past two years, I’ve been developing mixed media paintings that combine oil paint and fibers, and I’ve had the opportunity to sell work to collectors around the world. I still see every day as a learning process, and there’s so much more I hope to accomplish, but I truly can’t imagine doing anything else.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. As I mentioned, I’m still relatively new to this chapter of my career, and I’m constantly learning — whether that’s refining my craft or navigating the business side of being an artist. Creating the work itself is only part of the job. There’s also everything that happens behind the scenes: networking, marketing, accounting, and managing a business, all of which come with their own challenges.
Over time, though, I’ve learned that experience and consistency make those aspects feel much more manageable. And honestly, creating art from home while raising a toddler adds another layer to it all. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding, and I’ve learned to embrace the balance between motherhood and my creative career.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Growing up as a Hispanic woman raised by resilient matriarchs, I was taught that strength meant enduring everything without complaint. That understanding shifted profoundly when my mother, while facing a terminal illness, encouraged me to unlearn much of what she had passed down to me. She came to believe that true strength lies in vulnerability, self-awareness, and self-love — a realization that deeply transformed both my life and my artistic practice.
At the same time, I was welcoming my daughter into the world while grieving the loss of my mother. Experiencing motherhood and loss simultaneously gave me a much deeper understanding of the generations of women who came before me, as well as the pressures placed on women to remain endlessly strong in order to raise strong daughters themselves. While I was raised to repeat certain patterns, I now find meaning in exploring the courage it takes to break them.
My work centers on this evolution. I paint large-scale, vibrant portraits of women that celebrate self-discovery, feminine introspection, and resilience. The paintings are layered with symbolism and often incorporate weaving and embroidery inspired by my Mexican heritage. These materials represent the threads of identity, memory, and tradition — the ones we choose to carry forward, and the ones we choose to unravel.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Miami is its incredible mix of cultures and perspectives. It’s such a vibrant, international city, and I love being able to connect with people from all over the world and from so many different walks of life on a daily basis.
At the same time, Miami’s rapid growth feels both exciting and bittersweet. Having grown up here, I’ve watched the city change tremendously over the years. Part of me misses the old Miami — the bohemian charm, the longtime local spots, and the character that made the city feel so unique. But I also appreciate seeing Miami evolve and receive new energy, investment, and appreciation. I think both feelings can exist at the same time, and that balance is part of what makes living here so interesting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sofiadelrivero.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiadelriveroart/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sofiadelriveroart
