User:B20232024/Sonya Fe

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Sonya Fe (1952-present) is a Hispanic American Painter known for her artwork that reflects social and cultural issues.

Biography
Sonya Fe was born in Los Angeles, California in 1952. She has lived and worked mostly in Southern California, and during her childhood she lived in the William Mead Housing Project in Downtown Los Angeles. Fe was raised by a Jewish-American mother and a Mexican-American father and had 7 siblings. In her younger years, she witnessed the Chicano art movement and much of her artistic vision today is influenced by it. She began by using her childhood living room cement floor as an art canvas. Her parents, Ruth Goldfein and Joseph Williams, supported her artistic dreams, taking her on outings to draw what inspired her. When she was 13, she won an art scholarship to attend a summer program at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She then went on to get a B.A. in art at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her ability to channel her thoughts in her work has made her a prime artist in the Chicano art movement. She now lives in Elk Grove, a city in Sacramento County, and is married to Arturo Vasquez, a children’s book author whom she shares a son with who works as a graphic designer.

Famous Artwork:

Sonya Fe illustrated a children’s book called “You Can Draw Too,” which she published through Publishing Children’s Stories which she co-founded. In 1998, she received the national Artist Award from the California State Senate.

As a Hispanic American artist, Sonya Fe's work reflects issues and inequalities in gender, race, and human thought in a worldwide sense. She has been featured for her work in magazines such as Forbes Sunstorm Magazine, Sacramento Magazine, and Sixteen Sixteen Magazine. A critique by Contemporary Chicana/Chicano Art: Artists, Works, Culture, and Education stated that her work was “a collage of transparent tissues.” They discussed how her work seemed to be volumetric and transparent at the same time, holding glow and radiance at a gentle and extreme measure all at the same time.

Sonya’s work is shown all over the United States and she has a current exhibit open in Sacramento called “Brushes of Fire.” Her paintings are found in many collections such as CCR Pounder and Cheech Marin and Smithsonian Institution. In Los Angeles, she worked with other artists to restore the Great Wall of Los Angeles.

The most known Sonya Fe exhibit is called “Are You With Me?” being shown from October 16, 2021- May 29, 2022 which included included 27 oil paintings and 18 mixed-media drawings. The exhibition sought to be a biographical depiction of her own life as well as depicting images of women’s roles decided by society as well as children’s innocence. The exhibition catalog includes the Sonya Fe quote explaining her exhibit, “I want the viewer to stand with me while looking at the world. I want them to feel, see, and understand what I am saying- to not be left behind. I want to ask them, ‘Are you with me?’” The exhibit “Are You With Me?” was curated by Norma Chairez-Hartell, and embarked on a national tour after it was shown at the Riverside Art Museum.

Further Reading:
 * Fe, Sonya. Women Need Whorehouses Too. LuLu Publishing Services, 2015.
 * 1) Access to EBook Link: https://www.everand.com/book/485954743/Women-Need-Whorehouses-Too
 * 2) Sacramento Press News Article: https://www.sacramentopress.com/2012/06/14/spotlight-on-sonya-fe-contemporary-artist/
 * 3) Sacramento Magazine Journal:
 * 4) https://issuu.com/sacramentomagazine/docs/july_2023_de
 * 5) Women, Mujeres, 1XOQ: Revolutionary Visions, , Claudia D. Hernandez pg. 134-135. 2

 External Links 


 * 1) Official Site: https://www.sonyafe.com/
 * 2) Most Recent Bulletin: Österreich, Elva K. “Artist on Mission to Spread Awareness.” Las Cruces Bulletin, Las Cruces Bulletin, 8 Oct. 2020, www.lascrucesbulletin.com/stories/artist-on-mission-to-spread-awareness,4974.
 * 3) Instagram Handle: @artistsonyafe
 * 4) https://www.sonyafe.com/artist-statement

 Exhibitions 

Selected Exhibitions:

2019 ETN Gallery, Erotica

2019 Dona Ana Arts Council, January artist, Sonya Fe

2018 El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX Papel Chicano Dos, works on paper, collection of Cheech Marin

2018. Magnum Opus studio of the stars, Sacramento CA,

2018 Black Queen, Xavier University, Louisiana, CCH Pounder, LA

2017 University of Wyoming Art Museum, Wyoming

2017 Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK Papel Chicano Dos, works on paper, collection of Cheech Marin

2017 Riverside Art Museum, CA Papel Chicano Dos, works on paper, collection of Cheech Marin

2017 Sonya Fe, Passion of Color, Smud Gallery, Sacramento CA

2016 Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego Papel Chicano Dos, works on paper, collection of Cheech Marin

2014 paper, collection of Cheech Marin One-day show, Studio 299, Willow Creek, CA (Trinity Journal)

2013 Brushes of Fire, Fremont Gallery, South Pasadena

2013 Brushes of Fire, Temporary Contemporary Gallery, SAC

2012 Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum, SAC,

2012 Space in Color, Fremont Gallery, South Pasadena

2010 Brushes of Fire, Avenue 50 Studio, LA

2010 All About Women, La Raza Galleria Posada, SAC

2009 Dia de Los Muertos, Sacred Memories, The Pico House Gallery, LA

2008 Fresh Faces, 20th Street Gallery, SAC

2007 Sonya Fe, Orange County Contemporary

2007 Beautiful Deception, Avenue 50 Studio, LA

1999 Sonya Fe Raw, La Raza Galleria Posada, SAC

1999 Sonya Fe, State Capitol, SAC

1999 Women Escaping a Violent Environment, W.E.A.V.E. SAC

1993 Sonya Fe, Lawrence Gallery, Santa Rosa

1998 Proyecto Mujer, Self-Help Graphics, Galleria Otra Vez, LA

1988 Sonya Fe, Art Expo Cal, LA

1985 Sonya Fe, Los Angeles Art Association, LA

1983 Sonya Fe, Velasquez Art Center, Camarillo

1983 Sonya Fe, Solar Art Gallery, San Diego

1982 Sonya Fe, Ojai Art Center

1977 Sonya Fe, Mechicano Art Center, LA

Selected Exhibitions Across the US :

1998 Sonya Fe, Handsel Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

1990 Sonya Fe, Jewel Spiegel Gallery, New Jersey

1989 Sonya Fe, Pierre’s Gate Gallery, Manchester, Vermont

1989 Sonya Fe, JRS Gallery, Rhode Island

1989 Sonya Fe, Paul Sorota Fine Arts, Boston, MASS

1988 Sonya Fe, New Masters, Miami, FL

1988 Sonya Fe, Galleria Capistrano, Santa Fe, NM

1988 Sonya Fe, Art Expo, NY

1987 Our Annual Small Works, Joy Tash Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

Exhibitions at Universities and Colleges:

1998 Chicano Art, California State University

1998 Chicana (o) Identities, College of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

1997 Qué Vida, University of La Verne, CA

1993 Sonya Fe, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA

1984 Women of Yucatán, Occidental College, LA, CA

Exhibitions at Museums:

2011 Women of Color, Sojourner Truth Museum, Sac. CA

2003 I Love Men, But.. Morris Grave Museum, Eureka, CA

1988 Sonya Fe, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Ill

Exhibitions outside US:

1991 Sonya Fe, Galleria National, Monterey, MX

1990 Sonya Fe, World Print Fair, Tokyo, Japan

Art Consultant:

2012 Dia De Los Muertos, Old Town Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA

2011 The Great Wall of Los Angeles Murals, SPARC, Los Angeles

2010 Highland Park Murals, Pacific Telephone, SPARC, Los Angles

2004 Drawing and Painting, College of the Redwoods, Hoopa, CA

2003 Child Teaching Children, Integrating Literacy, Art, and Technology,

Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District, Hoopa, CA

2001 Child Teaching Children, Integrating Literacy, Art, and Technology, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Richmond, CA

1999 Child Teaching Children, Integrating Literacy, Art, and Technology, Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach, CA

Radio:

2010 KXJZ radio, Sacramento, CA

1994 La Voz, Santa Rosa, CA

Television:

2015 TV News Sacramento, 10, CBS

2010 TV News Sacramento, 10, CBS

2010 TV Sacramento, and Company, 7 ABC

2010 UNAVISION TV Sacramento, CA

1990 UNAVISION TV 5, Sacramento, CA

1999 KCRA TV 3, De Colores, Sacramento, CA

1990 La Guia, Hispanic TV Guide

Collections:

David Bischoff, Art Educator and Art Collector, Sac. CA

McDonald House, Got Milk ( Resin Cow)

Karen Hanford, Sycamore Hill Gardens Planner, Marcellus, NY

Cheech Marín, Chicanitas, Actor, Los Angeles, CA

CCH Pounder, Actor, Los Angeles, CA

Ronald J. Madsen, AIA, Sac. CA

Carnegie Museum, Oxnard, CA

Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art, NY

Kentucky Derby Art Museum, Kentucky

Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.

Fresno County Museum Hispanic Fiesta, CA

Publications:

Sonya Fe, The Las Cruces, Bulletin, pg. 37 January 18, 2019

Oddments and other aesthetics, The Las Cruces, Bulletin, pg. 37- January 11, 2019

Arts and Entertainment, The Las Cruces, Bulletin, pg. 34, January,4, 2019

Cover art. Joaquin Magazine, April 2018

Women, Mujeres, 1XOQ: Revolutionary Visions ,, Claudia D. Hernandez pg. 134-135. 2018

Artist Sonya Fe, on cover and article American Talent Magazine, pg. 8-11 Dec 2017

Artist Sonya Fe, on cover and article Albuquerque Talent Magazine, pg. 8-11 Sept.2017

Digging Deep, The Las Cruces, Bulletin, pg. 39-40, August, 2017

Artist Sonya Fe, on cover and article Sacramento Talent Magazine, pg. 8-11, July 2017,

Papel Chicano Dos, works on paper, collection of Cheech Marin pg. 14-21

Through a child’s eye Joaquin Magazine, pg. 13-15 Dec. 2016

Cara A Portraits Cara, by Andres Alvarez, pg. 30-31 2016

Forget what you learn, SN&R, pg. 55, Dec. 2016

Brushes of Fire, Sixteen Magazine, pg. 54-57, SAC, Issue 13, Feb. 2013

Sonya Fe: A Lifetime of Artistry and Wisdom, Sunstorm Fine Art Magazine, pg. 19-20 NY, Spring, 2012

Spotlight on: Sonya Fe ,Contemporary Artist- Sacramento Press, 2012 Children Teaching Children in Hoopa Valley, Hoopa Elementary Publishing House,

CD-ROM Multimedia Technology, Hoopa, CA, 2004

Mexican-American Painter, Journal Art beat, July 2004

Contemporary Chicana/Chicano Art, Bilingual Press, Hispanic Research Center, pg. 20-21,40,218-219, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, vol. 1, 2002

13 Women to Watch, Sacramento Magazine, pg. 39, Sac., July, 1999

Ready to Soar, After a Dance with the Wolves, Sunstorm Magazine, pg. 37/39, 1993

Sonya Fe: Painting Women, The Paper, pg. 17 Vol. 15, Sonoma County’s,

Independent Voice, October, 1993

Pinceladas Sutiles E Inspiradoras, La Guia, pg. 3-4,Van Nuys, CA, October, 1990

A MasterpiecE, Elan Magazine, Classic Women, pg. 70-71, Canada, Sept., 1990

Commissions:

Bilingual Press, Tempe, AZ

Coca Cola Corporation

Commission Femenil of Los Angeles

National Association for Bilingual Education

Mexican American Legal Defense-Education

California Department of Education

Pacific Telephone Company

California Lottery