Sophia Fang Art

06/25/2025

it’s 2000. my parents raise their right hands and become us citizens in seattle’s ins building, once known as the “ellis island of the northwest.” for some, it’s the culmination of years-long anticipation, for others it’s a place of fearful detention.

two decades later, i return to the building, first as an artist-in-residence and now with a mural on view at uplifting local immigrant-owned businesses.

it’s hard for me to cope with the reality that stories like ours—of migration, survival, dreams—can stir up anything besides celebration and joy.

in a time when immigration discourse is divisive and sense of place feels fragile, I can’t stay silent.

not as an artist.
not as a founder.
not as a daughter of immigrants.

we’re here, proudly existing. 🌊

come see our expressions of cultural resilience, on view through aug 9, wed-sat 11 am-5 pm!

special thanks to , , , , , , for making this happen.

💌 to fellow artists .cosme .t.e .co .carina

09/27/2023

It’s been a year since I painted “Did You You Eat Yet?”, a permanent mural at Spice Bridge, in collaboration with Experience Tukwila.

The mural uplifts the stories of 14 immigrant and refugee women-owned businesses at the food incubator and pays homage to the universality of sharing love through a home-cooked meal and highlights the act of cooking as a powerful, feminist gesture.

This mural is my love letter to the moms, aunties, and sisters who pass down cultural traditions in the community through plates of food. It was also an endeavor that challenged my preconceived notions about my artistic capabilities and forced me to think critically about creating art with lasting power.

”Did You Eat Yet?” has been used as an Instagram photo spot, youth poetry nights, and many more community events. Go check it out if you’re ever around Seattle!

Read more about my Spice Bridge reflections here: https://medium.com/non-disclosure/did-you-eat-yet-a-love-letter-to-immigrant-women-entrepreneurs-722dd1ffba27

12/03/2021

Mama, she is majestic! 🌊 Grateful to announce my ground mural on immigrant-led entrepreneurship at Redmond Downtown Park, and my largest public art undertaking to date. Ahoy! Ahoy! centers on 5 community-suggested dishes by immigrant-owned businesses in Redmond. Steeped in the cultural practices of their passengers, the dishes act as travel vessels making headway across waves, mirroring the migration journeys that so many people have taken to make Redmond their home.

Go check out Rocky's Empanadas, Stone Korean Restaurant, Kanishka Cuisine of India, Sip Thai Bistro, and Jawhara Cafe if you’re in the area (and my mural while you’re at it 😉).

Real talk: this was my first time managing the fabrication and installation process on my own, and there were more than a few sleepless nights that I thought I didn’t have the chops to finish. But I thought back to the migration stories surrounding us, the countless migrants who’ve boldly created their piece of the world here, and I knew that I needed to do this to recognize us and our ancestors’ contributions to this land.

I’m so grateful to the City of Redmond, Washington -Government, City of Redmond - Parks & Recreation for investing in my potential as an artist, as well as Marcia Iwasaki of Office of Arts & Culture Seattle, Elisheba Johnson of Wa Na Wari, and Angie Hinojos of Centro Cultural Mexicano for your incomparable wisdom at Public Art Intensive Eastside: you’ve all given me the confidence to be more adventurous and creative in pursuing public art projects of greater scale.

Plus, I can’t forget to thank my parents for taking a pause on retirement bliss to help me install, Studio 3 Graphics for the beautiful print, and the dozens of Redmond community members who suggested their favorite immigrant-owned businesses in my survey.

Ahoy! Ahoy! We are here to stay.

More about the project: https://www.sophiafang.com/ahoy-ahoy

07/22/2021

💥BOOM!💥 So, so excited to share my very first public art window display at BOOM Concepts in Pittsburgh! Walk, drive, or bike by my Houses of PGH exhibition on Penn Ave through August 22.

Thanks to BOOM Concepts, Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and Penn Avenue Arts & Commercial District for this amazing opportunity and the essential work that you're doing to create a more equitable arts economy in PGH!

More exciting news coming soon~

03/18/2021

There were 3,800 anti-Asian hate crimes in the past year. 68% of the victims were women, and that's not by coincidence. Nor is it a monolithic issue: those who are most vulnerable by class, immigration status, and gender disproportionately bore the brunt of violence. So here's how I'm taking action on a personal level: I'm donating all proceeds from my Asian noodle soups and shaved ice postcard packs to API Chaya, AAPI Women Lead, Red Canary Song, and National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF). Shop: https://www.sophiafang.com/shop

Food is how the Asian diaspora shows love, gives comfort, and heals. While my art can't solve the underlying issues, I hope that it can contribute to organizations who are doing the important work. Please share this with folks who'd care or appreciate some nice art!

Shop: https://www.sophiafang.com/shop

06/22/2020

My “It’s a Beautiful Day in PGH” house print is part of Small Mall’s anti-racist art fundraiser. All profits from this 13”x19” print will be donated to local anti-racist organizations: SisTers PGH, 1Hood Media, BYE, and Level Up Studios. Please check it out: http://www.smallmallpgh.com/product-page/houses-by-sophia-fang

Generously printed with the help of Fran Flaherty! 100% of the profits from this print will go towards local anti-racist organizations! Print is 13"x19"

05/21/2020

After much blood, sweat, and tears (and some watercolors!), I’m proud to announce the launch of Painting Main, my social enterprise art project! For the past weeks, I’ve been painting watercolors of Pittsburgh businesses and transforming them into postcards. These postcards are pay-what-you-can starting at $4, and all proceeds will be donated to the featured business.

Go check out the postcards of Casa Brasil, Ineffable Cà Phê, Arriviste Coffee Bar, and Nancy's Revival at: www.sophiafang.com/main

05/21/2020