Sonia Cook Broen's visual and multimedia snack tray

Born in California, raised in England, the Northeast, and Tennessee; I moved to New Orleans, La at 18 to study visual arts at Loyola University.  After my time there and hurricane Katrina in 2005, I moved to the Gulf Coast of Alabama and have continued my studies and art making.

I am mostly inspired by everything! People truly move me, I love that every person has a story to tell and their face is the illustration to that novel lying below the surface. The area where I currently live has a plethora of natural inspirations. The soft white sand swept by the gentle waves of emerald water where one can find tiny bits of mother of pearl.  Blue Herons wait by swamp edges before stretching their giant wings and taking graceful flight above burnt brush and bramble, alligator homes and bubbly swampy murk. Of course there is the music, always the music, the key that opens the doors in your mind through your ears! and food, dance, warm sun, spring flowers, summer dresses, cold beer, red wine, horses, mud, hard rain, good coffee, guitar strings, callused fingers, three day old lasagna, time to read, time to breathe, never minding the lines, the rules, the times!

My work is as fluid and ever-changing as the water which surrounds me.

Art is life, life art. There is no imitation.

Collections and Exhibitons

My work is in private collections throughout the Southeast and New England

Some of my patrons include

Francine and David Salmond (UK), Che and James Calvert (AL), Maya and Nick Cantrell (AL), Sarah Dunn (LA), Linda Moody (AL), Bill Moody and Sheila Dean (AL), Caroline Hall (AL), Mike and Corey Butler (AL), Samantha and Micheal Billowitz (CT), Allan Hendry (RI), Abbey and Patrick Lucas (ME), Dotty Ledbetter (AL), Jamie and Dennis Wolf (WI), Charis Rogers (AL)

Shows/Exhibitions

Memphis, Tn at the Museum of Art, scholastic student exhibition 1999

Crittenden County art show, 1999 first place mixed media

Ven Norman Gallery, Covington, LA 2000

Gallery on Magazine, New Orleans, La 2001

Artel Gallery, Pensacola, FL  Ha! exhibition 2005 second place winner

Artel Gallery, War 2005 first place

Fairhope street artists exhibiting artist and member 2005-2007

An Introspective View, two man show with Maya Blume-Cantrell 2008

Starbucks, Gulf Shores, AL show with Shea Mayfield and Maya Blume-Cantrell 2008

Artel Gallery, me, myself, and I 2009

Orange Beach Art Association exhibiting member 2009-present