Part of both the Greek diaspora, and queer community, Sophia is a figurative artist and musician who addresses her religious beliefs and contradictions with vibrant narratives and introspective curiosity. She currently lives and works in residency in Brooklyn, New York at Chashama Studios at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

Kayafas currently teaches drawing at Pratt University’s Foundation Department. She dedicates her time to many creative projects while maintaining a robust studio practice.

"Paintings are incredible machines that have the capacity to reveal our own subconscious to us, to change us; to set our inner most parts into motion - telepathically. When viewed in real space, they evolve toward the viewer and collapse time with a technology so understated, they often go unseen" and unappreciated in a world so saturated with images.

My painting practice has always centered around discovery and experimentation, leaning heavily into listening and responding to the image as it is being painted. My work tends to take on spiritually symbolic and allegorical notions, and these past few years, I have leaned into intentional world building and strengthened my relationship to my materials. Striking that balance between a contemporary application, and a distilled representation of my experience is an exciting and ever-evolving process."

Education

2016 Masters of Fine Arts: Painting

New York Academy of Art, New York, NY

2014 Bachelor of Science: Fine Art and Public Relations

West Liberty University, Wheeling, WV

Group Exhibitions

2023 Petit Et Intime , Edifice Belgo, Quebec, Canada

Love Never Breaks , Blend, Brooklyn , NY

2022 Roots and Wings, Annunciation Church, NY

2021 Animal Instincts, Steven Z evi ta s Gallery, Boston, MA

2020 YOUNGBLOOD, Space Gallery St Barth, NY

Pratt Faculty Exhibition, Brooklyn, NY

2019 Please Step on the Grass, Anastasyia Tarasenko Studio s, NY

2018 Summer Exhibition 2018 , Flowers Gallery, NY

2017 Fellows Exhibition, Wilkinson Gallery, NY

About Face, South Hamptons Art Center, NY

Single Fare 4, High line Stages, NY

Chubb Miami, FL

2016 Ladies Christian Union Exhibition, NY

Summer Exhibition 2016, Flowers Gallery, NY

Funny Stuff, New York Academy of Art, NY

2015 China Residency Exhibition, New York Academy of Art, NY

New Ovington Village, Bay Ridge Art Space, Brooklyn,

798 District Exhibition, Joy Arts Gallery, Beijing, China

Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art

Large Drawings Show, New York Academy of Art, NY

Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, NY

Juried Exhibition for Allied Artists of West Virginia, WV

2012 Crosscurrents Exhibition, Stifle Fine Arts, WV

Solo

2016 Certainly Uncertain

Kirby Gallery, Wheeling Jesuit University, WV

2013 People, Places, and Things,

ArtsLink Inc. Gallery, New Martinsville, WVA

Self Portrait, Wheeling Artisan Center, Wheeling WV,

2012 Progression, Shaw Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA

Awards and

Residencies

2019 - 24 Chashama Studios Residency Program,

Brooklyn Army Terminal, NY

2018 Residency Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo,

Altos de Chevon, La Romana

2017 - 16 PGTA Award Recipient for Teaching, NYAA

2017 - 16 Third Year Chubb Fellowship Award,

New York Academy of Art

2015 China Residency, Central Academy of Fine Arts,

Beijing, China

2014 Studio Incamminati, Philidelphia, PA

Arts Media / Entertainment

2020 Co-Host of North Brooklyn Artists,

Documentary TV series, Cyprian Films (Emmy Awarded)

2018 -22 Co-host, editor, producer for the Art Grind Podcast

ADJUNCT FACULTY POSITIONS

2023 - current Foundation Drawing, Adjunct Faculty

Pratt Institute, NY

2018 - 2023 Foundation Drawing, Visiting Faculty

Pratt Institute, NY

2024 Painting 2, Adjunct Faculty Hudson County Community College, NJ

2023 Animating the Mark , Adjunct Faculty Marymount Manhattan College, NY

2022-2023 2-D Design, Adjunct Faculty

Hudson County Community College, NJ

2018- Current Drawing I, Adjunct Faculty

Hudson County Community College, NJ

2021 - Current Art & Cultural Studies, Adjunct Faculty

Summer Undergraduate Residency Program

New York Academy of Art, NY

2021 - current Painting I, Adjunct Faculty

Hudson County Community College, NJ

2020 - 2021 Experiencing Art, Adjunct Faculty

Hudson County Community College, NJ

2018 - 2019 Drawing: Exploration of the Human Form Summer Undergraduate Residency Program

New York Academy of Art, NY

Teaching Assistantships

2016 - 2018 Painting I, MFA, Bernardo Siciliano

New York Academy of Art, NY

2016 - 2018 Painting III, MFA, Margaret Bowland

New York Academy of Art, NY

2017 Painting the Figure, Masterclass, Alex Kanevsky

New York Academy of Art, NY

2017 Drawing II, MFA, Michele Fenniak

New York Academy of Art, NY

2015 - 2017 Drawing I & II MFA, CFA Dan Thompson

New York Academy of Art, NY

2016 - 2017 Art & Culture, MFA, Sarah Schmerler

New York Academy of Art, NY