Conversations with Sophia Hoersten

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Hoersten.

Hi Sophia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Hilliard, Ohio, as one of five children. When my siblings and I weren’t getting our hands messy with air dry clay or finger paint, we were playing outdoors on bikes or pogo sticks. In grade school, I played a few different sports but decided to focus solely on running once in high school. Around the same time, I took an art class where I learned to oil paint and fell in love with it. I pursued these interests in college when I accepted a scholarship to run track and cross country on Ohio University’s women’s team and declared a concentration in Painting & Drawing in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Pursuing a creative major is always a challenge. When I entered college, I struggled to let go of many preconceived notions of perfection when it came to creating art. It made learning to handle rejection and criticism difficult at first. I remember a turning point in my mindset when I attended an artist talk by an Ohio University BFA Ceramist alum. He talked about his experience with making mistakes and even said, “My rejection pile is way bigger than my acceptance pile.” Hearing a successful artist say this was transformative in my mind. It felt like he was speaking directly to the young artists in the audience and encouraging them to make mistakes and fail, which I was so afraid of. I’m still working to overcome the roadblocks that tend to accompany a mindset rooted in perfectionism, but since then, I’ve allowed myself room to mess up. I’ve applied to more opportunities and exhibitions and smeared paint across canvases with no idea what I was doing. I’m learning how much growth follows a period of trial and experimentation as opposed to the stagnancy that results from time spent in the comfort zone. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in realism oil painting, though I regularly practice my skills in other areas and styles. A common theme within some of my earlier work explores ecofeminism, a theory which parallels the oppression of women with the exploitation of the earth. My gears have since shifted as I prepare a collection of oil painting self-portraits for my upcoming thesis exhibition in April, which explores topics of coming of age and identity in womanhood. A piece I created while experimenting for this upcoming series is called Rinse/Repeat (pictured), which explores the monotonous routine women often feel pressured to maintain in order to fulfill societal beauty standards. It was recently accepted into Eastern Michigan’s Fresh Looks 2024 exhibition, set to show in late January. 

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some really knowledgeable and supportive teachers, coaches, professors, and peers throughout both my academic and athletic careers. I consider a couple of them to be my mentors, as they’ve continually offered guidance and remained invested in me and my work throughout the years. My advice in networking and finding a mentor is to stay in touch with people that know your work ethic and can see your vision. It’s always helpful to have people in your corner that you can rely on for constructive criticism or advice, as well as to expose you to new opportunities.