Our writer Alicia had the pleasure of being given a private tour of Costa Rican artist Sophia Tristán’s recently opened solo exhibition “NaturalMente” at Galeria Matices in San José. In this show, she presents over 15 acrylic paintings created during the past several years from her series of figures immersed in nature.

Statement:

Sophia Tristán’s art explores balance, identity, and the constant inner and outer search of authenticity, examined through personal, familial, and cultural-historical identity. It has become a way for the artist to gain physical and emotional agency, aiming to empower by speaking directly about the issues that surround us daily.

Sophia Tristán was born in 1988 in San José, Costa Rica. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication with an emphasis in Creative Communication and Public Relations from Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, United States. Recent exhibitions include Group Show Ñ, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, United States (2017), 57th Venice Biennale Artist Residency, Venice, Italy (2017), MFA Exhibition, Fort Mason, San Francisco, United States (2018), Todos Latinos, Galería Baga06, Mexico City, Mexico (2018), Anhelos de un Ùltimo Día, Solo Exhibition, Galería Talentum, San José, Costa Rica (2019), Inauguración de laboratorio de Democracy Lab, America Free Zone, San José, Costa Rica (2019).

Tristán currently lives and works in San José, Costa Rica. View more of her work on her website or on Instagram @astopintura.