A dream comes true!
Sophia’s debut to the public came with her First One Woman Show for the Meridian Gallery’s 10th Anniversary, San francisco, 1999.
Ann Brodsky, founder/owner of Meridian Gallery, introduces Sophia, who presented 25 original art pieces and sold 14 during the show.
Notable Press Commentary
San Francisco Chronicle Datebook, July 1999
“Sophia’s art often melds the ancient tradition of Byzantine icon painting, in which she is steeped, with images, and myths of other cultures. Sophia was selected for showing at the Meridian by Owner and Founder Anne Brodsky, because Sophia’s work is rooted in tradition with a sense of spirituality.”
San Francisco Arts Monthly, July 1999
“The Savalas exhibit . . . consists of 25 objects, including six traditional egg tempura icons as well as larger canvases and structures on the icons themselves (each of which take 10 days to make), Savalas has used traditional materials: egg tempera, pigment, gold leaf and multiple layers of gesso. Savalas’ relationship to the art form dates back to her paternal grandfather, who was a well-known iconographer in a small Greek village in the Peloponnese, and her uncle, who traveled throughout the U.S. creating icons for Greek Orthodox Churches in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, And San Jose.”
Brodsky, gallery’s owner, reflects:
“Sophia takes very ancient techniques that are ritualized and makes extraordinarily beautiful and moving icons in that ancient Greek Tradition. Then she gives it a more personal and universal range which moves it beyond the devotional object . . . and places it in the realm of contemporary painting.”
