Sophia Lucas is an olfactory and visual artist whose work explores the intersections of light, scent and memory. Originally from Bellevue, WA, she received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA from DigiPen Institute of Technology.
My art, through the drama of light and color, draws moments of pathos from scenes of stillness. I aim to capture the way different physical properties of light and color evoke different emotional responses.
I draw on a formal background in drawing and painting to bring a classical approach to lighting while pursuing an unconventional source of inspiration; olfactory art. My thesis, The Narrative of Fragrances, translates fragrances into digital interior spaces. The fragrances I designed are structured with top, middle, and base notes that unfold over time, and I lit each environment in response to the complexities of those layers.
My broader practice extends this sensory translation into oil and casein painting. Inspired by the physiological connection between scent, memory, and emotion, I paint with a sensitivity to how light and color bring these fleeting responses to the forefront of my work.