Sonia Lynn Sadler

Sonia Lynn Sadler, artist and designer, was born at Fort Riley, an army base in Kansas. Being an army brat meant traveling to different countries and living in five different states. She currently manages her time painting in Bowie,Maryland and West New York, New Jersey.

Sonia Lynn attended the Maryland Institute College of Art, studying fine art and illustration. She transferred to Parsons School of Design where she received a Bachelor of Fine Art in Fashion Design. The Hallmark Golden Key Award was presented to Sonia Lynn for her art work by the Hecht Co. in Washington D. C.

Sonia Lynn has had a career in fashion, working for Anne Klein, Jones New York and Liz Claiborne. Her accessories have been featured in the New York Times and Women's Wear Daily. On her own she has begun work under her own name Sonia Lynn Sadler Arts, which encompasses fine art work, children's book illustration and a line of greeting cards featuring her art work.

ARTIST STATEMENT
The Fabric of Life Collection
My colored scratchboards show my early memories of the strong wonderful people who taught me so much. They were not rich in monetary terms, but the lessons and the love they gave me were worth more than gold. Because my father was in the military, my childhood was spent moving from one place to the next. I always looked forward to the next new adventure and made good friends along the way who are still with me today.

The process of carving the surface of the scratchboard reminds me of the ancient relief work carved into pottery and clay surfaces used to commemorate events.

In my work I want to explore culture. The cultures of the peoples of African descent have been spread over many continents and have influenced and inspired cultures around the world. I want to show how the differences in cultures are minimal as compared to the likenesses. In other words we are all more similar than we are different. I like to tell stories with my work. Sometimes there are double meanings to a scene and subtle detail so that the viewer has to look a couple of time to see all the detail.

I am a colorist. Pattern and color define my work. My interest in color and pattern comes from watching the women in my family work with fabric. They made their own clothes, later these clothes would become colorful prized quilts.

What is Scratchboard or Clayboard?
Scratchboard is a pressed particle board that has as thin surface of white clay. The paint is applied to the white surface. One color may be used for a monotone effect.

Or multiple colors to compose a picture. After the paint dries it is scratched or carved using a pin knife. The result is the thin white out lines that are used to define the shapes in the composition. Intricate detail can be achieved by using the pin knife. The finished piece of art work is a pSonia Lynn Sadler

BIOGRAPHY
Sonia LYNN. Sadler, artist and designer, was born at Ft. Riley, an army base in Kansas. Being an army brat meant traveling to different countries and living in five different states. Sonia attended the Maryland Institute College of Art studying fine arts and illustration. She graduated from Parsons School of Design. The Hallmark Golden Key Award was presented to Sonia for her work by the Hecht Co. in Washington D.C. She has had a career in fashion, working as designer for Anne Klein, Jones New York and Liz Claiborne. Her accessories have been featured in The New York Times and Women's Wear Daily.

Sonia's art work has been featured in the Washington Post, Valentine New York, Washington Woman, The Daily News, Washington Woman, Essence and the Gleaner. On her own she has begun work under her own name Sonia Lynn Sadler Arts which encompasses various mediums of artwork and her own line of greeting cards. Sonia also illustrates and writes children’s books.

EXIHIBITIONS
Plegarians MD 2005
Diversity Project, New York 2005
National Medical Association, NY 2005
Essence Jazz Festival, New Orleans ,LA 2005
Sarafina Gallery, NY 2005
National Coalition of 100 Black Women Annual Auction , NY 2005
Links New York Chapter Annual Luncheon, NY 2005
Links Eastern Regional Conference, VA 2005
Links Western Conference, Austin TX 2005
New Perspectives Manhattan Borough Presidents Office, NY 2005
Start Project Florham Park, NJ 2005
County Executive Office, Upper Marlboro, MD 2005
Art in the Atrium Morristown, NJ 2005
Black Fine Art Show Puck Building, NY 2005
Karpeles Manuscript Museum One Woman Show, Newburg, NY 2005
Prince Georges County Executive Suite Exhibition Series
States Attorney’s Office, MD 2005

2004
Rongio Gallery One Woman Show 2004
Art in The Atrium, Morristown NJ 2004
Kraft Nabisco Morristown NJ 2004
Black Fine Art Show 2004
Savacou Gallery, Puck Bldg. NY 2004
Art in the Atrium “Red Velvet Cake” Morristown, NY 2004
Kraft Nabisco Black History Month, Morristown, NJ 2004
Fulton Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY 2004
The Fabric of Life, Bowie, MD 2004
Red Piano Too 2004
Links National Convention 2004
The Fabric of Life, One Woman Show, Sarasota , Florida 2004
Red Piano Too, St .Helena Island, Featured Artists 2004
Off the Main, New York, New York 2004
The Dedicators, New York, New York 2004
The Coalition for the Empowerment for Education, New Rochelle 2004
Caribbean Art Group Show Brooklyn, NY 2004

2003
32nd Annual Contemporary Black Artists in America 2003, Great Neck, NY 2003
“Generations” Art in the Atrium, Morristown ,NJ 2003
Black Fine Art Show 2003, Savacou Gallery, Puck Bldg. NY 2003
Jack and Jill of Westchester Gala 2003
Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, New York 2003
Welencora Gallery Brooklyn, NY 2003
“Joy” Moon Child Fine Arts, Brooklyn 2003
Studio 2001 Art Gallery, Clinton, Md.2003
In The Gallery, Tennessee 2003
Fleet Bank, Brooklyn, NY 2003
Art At The River Front, Delaware 2003
Black in America, Boston 2003
Coalition for the Empowerment of Education 3rd Annual Gala, New Rochelle 2003
Montpelier Arts Festival, MD 2003
“Noitcartsballa”, Abstract Show, Moon Child Fine Arts, Brooklyn 2003

2002
Art in the Atrium, Morristown, New York 2002
National Black Fine Art Show, New York 2002
30th Annual Contemporary Black Artists in America Exhibition 2002
Kraft Nabisco Black History Month, Morristown NJ 2002
Celebrating Our African American Heritage, Key Span Power Co. Gallery, Brooklyn 2002
Savacou Gallery Expressions Through the Eyes of Women, New York 2002
The Working Women, Zakia Art ,Brooklyn 2002
The Fabric of Life Amy Ruths’, Harlem 2002
Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, New York 2002
Mother Madonna Mom Moon Child Fine Arts, Brooklyn, NY 2002
The Sounds We See WBGO Radio Station ,Newark NJ 2002
Musart Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 2002
Studio 2001 Clinton Md. 2002
Stepstone Gallery, Brooklyn NY 2002
Fabric of Life , Spring Show Bowie, Md.2002
Fulton Art Fair, Brooklyn 2002
Artist Challenge, Skylight Gallery, Restoration Center, Brooklyn 2002
The Oaks, Coalition for Educational Empowerment, New Rochelle 2002
Art At the Riverfront, Wilmington, Delaware 2002
Vanderbilt Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2002

2001
Art in the Atrium, Morristown 2001
30th Annual Contemporary Black Artists in America Exhibition2001
CAS Members Exhibitions, New Century Artists Gallery, Soho New York 2001
Times Square Lobby Exhibit “Multiple Expressions” 2001
Jersey City Hall: One Woman Show 2001
Sugar Hill Bistro: The Art of Jazz 2001
JVC Jazz Exhibit Savacuo Gallery New York 2001
Ellen Ashley Gallery Genesis Newark 2001
The Oaks, Coalition for Educational Empowerment, New Rochelle 2001
PCOG Gallery Grand Opening New York 2001
Who’s Who of Who’s New Brooklyn 2001

2000
The Summer Art Exhibit NYCATA/UFT Cork Gallery Lincoln Center, NY 2000
The Broome Street Gallery New York 2000
The International Women in Jazz St. Peters Church, NY 2000
The Jersey City Art Tour 2000
The Embankment Exhibit Fleet Bank 2000
20th Annual Artist Exhibition, National Arts Club Gramercy Park, NY 2000
The NY Assoc. of Black Journalist Awards Dinner, NY 2000

1989
The Heritage Art Gallery in Mitchellville, Maryland 1989
Montpelier Art Exhibition in Laurel, Maryland 1989