SOPHIE︎CHAO 
2D portfolio ︎︎︎



Carrie Mae Weems ong


Wrangling a Wounded Horse

2024
77”x55”
Textile, screenprint, and oil paint  


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Hanbok Cowboys

2023
6ft tall men
Textile and oil paint


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An All American Union

2023
60”x38”
oil paint, rhinestones, canvas printsl, thread


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This Horse Has 6 legs

2024
Textile, oilpaint, thread, mesh




Another New World Nativity

2023
42”x60”
oil paint
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This piece centralizes known American pop culture, masculine figures in a gladiator style battle as an exaggerated depiction of how masculinity shows up in modern American society. Utilizing iconic and fundamental examples of American iconography this piece specifically creates imagery pertaining to exaggerated American masculinity. The characters battling include Asian America kung fu legend Bruce Lee, Captain America, Gi Joe, very large Ann Darrow and very mini King Kong. In some context this dramatization of a gladiator battle specifically attempts to point out and display American masculinity with a degree of ridicule. Influenced by childlike video games, specifically super smash bros, the battle itself is ridiculous and very 2 dimensional. The background depicts a stadium, imagining an audience watching and cheering for this ridiculous display. Overall this painting tries to create melodramatic imagery, imagery that mirrors the ridiculous performance that masculinity emulates.


2 The Death
2023
50”x70”
oil paint


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Venetian Carnival

2024
Eagle Costume




Cock Fight

2023
watercolor and cardboard



She Cant Stop Swimming

2023
32”x48”
oil paint, rhinestones, canvas prints, thread

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CHAO$ 
2024
handpainted Puffy Painted t-shirts - “merch” as part of alter ego study





little Cowboy Matchbook

2023
Inkjet printer
Zine
Edition of 7

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Time Capsule for the Future:
2022
39"H x 26"W
Mixed media: Tape, everyday objects

This wood block carving displays a devolving train of thought. The title of the piece “ Am I a Fish” is mocking the associations that many people are told after undergoing very minor body modifications - such as piercing. Many people I know have lamented being compared to a fish or a cow after piercing their nose, lips or ears. I find his comparison to be very ridiculous and I wanted to tease the people who believe and perpetuate this line of reasoning. The piece is arranged under a series of text, exhibit A-F, all meant to read as a conspiracy theory proving that the statement “ Am I a FIsh?” is in fact true. The “evidence” places a fish hook next to a pair of earrings and a fish eye next to a human eye. While there seems to be some similarity between the imagery, it is still obvious that the statement is all together ridiculous.



Am I a Fish?

2022
Wood Block Print

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“I’m Not Listening”

2022
Screen Print

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I often delve into the issues that femininity presents. This lithograph shows a representation of an “objectified” female. A woman’s body consists of objects, all symbolizing the degradation of the female body. An Egg symbolizes unequal value of fertility, a clam represents the degrading language associated with female genitalia, jewelry displays women’s overwhelming beauty expectations, and other items, such as a sewing needle, show the domesticated prospects many women find themselves trapped by; This is to name just a few. All of these objects, including the woman’s face is represented through a pencil sketch, however the only image that is fully representational is the woman’s underwear. This pair of panties being the only photographed image within the entire composition, displays the way many men objectify women, only seeing them clearly for what they can offer sexually.


Lady Bits

2022
Lithograph

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Collage study

2021
oil painting





Portrait of Consumerism

2021
24"H x 18"W
Media: ink, watercolor, plastic



Study of Muscle:


2021

24"H x 18"W
Media:
Pen and Ink





The Products of Child Labor

2020
39"H x 26"W Mixed media: fabric, embroidery thread, acrylic paint
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Made By Children:

2020
50"H x 58"W Media: fabric, embroidery thread, acrylic paint

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The Cost of a Childhood
2020
24"H x 30"W Media: Fabric, embroidery thread, card stock


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Molding

2019
48"H x 24"W
Media: oil paint and clay




Alter Ego of Emotion


2021

18” x 24” collage





Punctured Tires
2020
48"H x 36"W Media: charcoal

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A Frequent Occurrence

2019
40"H x 30"W Media: charcoal

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Wax Meat and Dried Prunes

2019
36"H x 48"W
Media: charcoal

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Charcoal Studies

2020
18”Hx24”W





A Nightly Occurrance

2019
40"H x 30"W Media: charcoal


      
Sophie ︎ Chao