Sophia Dawson is one of 18 Black and BIPOC artists selected by the USTA to create an art installation transforming the front-row seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the 2020 US Open. The original art exhibit is part of the launch of the USTA's Be Open initiative and represents a bold commitment to advance inclusivity and diversity through tennis.
Dawson's work, titled “Young Eric Garner... Isaiah 54:13,” was created with acrylic, gold leaf, spray paint and mustard seeds.
About the Artist: Sophia Dawson is a Brooklyn-based visual artist who has dedicated her life’s work to exposing the stories and experiences of individuals who are striving to overcome the injustices they face both individually and collectively. By raising awareness of these individuals, she aims to humanize social justice issues and to prevent such experiences from being repeated in the future. Some of the individuals featured in her work include mothers who have lost their children to police brutality both past and present, the Exonerated 5 and political prisoners from the Black Liberation movement that are still incarcerated within the United States. In 2020, Sophia was one of three artists selected to design the “Black Lives Matter” street mural for Foley Square in New York City.
About the Artwork: This portrait of Eric Garner as a baby being held by his father is a continuation of a series of portraits that began in 2012 featuring families of victims of police brutality. The painting has scriptures layered in it from Isaiah 54 and Isaiah 61. Commanding healing, peace, joy and restoration for the families of victims and our people as a whole.
Instagram: @iamwetpaint
To explore more artists and artwork, visit our Black Lives To The Front homepage.
