Sofia Esteve has been a lover of art from a young age. Whether it be fine art, design, music, or theatre, she found herself a part of it all. However, it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with epilepsy her last year of college that she realized her yearn for creativity had always been a part of a deeper meaning.

After graduating with a BM from Oklahoma City University in 2012, her health journey took her away from a performance career in New York. Returning to her childhood home in South Texas was difficult, but it allowed her to work with professionals to train her seizure-alert dog, Huckleberry, and practice her own artwork, before finally settling in Denver, CO—with many hospitals stays in between, and eventually an RNS brain surgery. One might think that this whirlwind of change would leave someone feeling broken, and to be honest, in the beginning, it did. The isolation and discomfort of a chronic illness forced her to dive inward without fear because she was all she had, and that was truly life changing.

Coming from a place of grief, then curiosity, and eventually rebirth, she allowed herself to relearn what was once her strength, in a completely new way. Allowing her to connect once more with her art, something that has become a core part of herself. Being in Denver would allow her to learn more at the Denver Arts League, and eventually get her own studio in 2025.

Later it would be clear that creating had always been a way to express emotions that had not felt safe or comfortable to share in her day-to-day life. What has epilepsy taught her most? To cherish every moment that one is lucky to receive, to never underestimate what someone could be going through, and to let go of fear and embrace what you love. With that in mind, Sofia would like to thank you for your support as she works to reclaim her space in this world of ours, and that of others with disabilities along the way. As you take a look at her work, ask yourself, “How does it make me FEEL?”.

As an artist, that is how she reaches to connect the most. Her work has not always been abstract, and it may change in style from time to time, but so do we as people. One thing remains the same. Her yearning to release and connect through paint, paper, and canvas.