Today we’d like to introduce you to C.a. Shofed

Hi C.a., thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I feel like by now so many people know my story. My journey to becoming a fulltime working artist started the minute I moved to Trenton, New Jersey. The art scene at the time of my arrival was raw, vibrant and easy to access. Unlike the small town I grew up in. Trenton’s art scene is mature and welcoming and many of the local artists were being discovered by the world outside the borders of Trenton. Artists like Tamara Torres, Leon Rainbow and Kasso were leading that charge. In the neighborhood I moved to alone there were artists who had made a name for themselves and chose Trenton as their home. Art and friend, Jon Naar (an important mentor for me in my early days as an artist). Jon had one of own pieces of work owned and displayed by the MoMA. There were other creatives, a documentary filmmaker, a cinematographer, actors and several musicians. What an amazing place to feed the creative juices! I entered this scene tentatively at first. I started by exhibiting in free exhibits and the occasional group shows. In 2011 while I was recovery from my second kidney transplant, I made the decision to become a fulltime working artist. I began exhibiting and curating as C.a. Shofed. My first solo was at a popular establishment in the city of Trenton called Trenton Social. My subject choice at that time defined my direction and style. In those early days I labeled myself a fine arts photographer. As I began working with other artists, honing my craft and growing more comfortable in my art I dropped the “tag fine arts photographer” and labeled myself an artist. Overtime my artwork had been pressured by time I and the lessons I learned. The path I had taken brought with it many opportunities such as curating a vineyard in Hopewell Township, helping start a gallery in Trenton and finally becoming the Managing Director of Artworks Trenton. Always the artist though I began to have my art exhibited and sold across the globe from New York to London, on the West Coast and East Coast and back to the town that started me off, Trenton New Jersey.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

One of my main obstacles is making sure my work and the work of other photographers is recognized as ART! Not some minor sub-section in the arts. The many times I have seen the phrase “artists and photographers” welcome, as if photographers are not artists or photography not a major art form. Changing that narrative is an ongoing fight and is for sure on of my main obstacles. Art should be defined as what pleases the viewers eye. Therefore, we should not segregate art by categories. Accept it all and let viewer decide.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

As I hinted at in the story portion of this interview my work has changed over time. I guess all artists would say the same thing. We all grow and our influences change. The medium that defined me best in the beginning of my career would be photography. Now, if asked I would tell you that I’m a multi-medium artist. My base medium will probably always be photography. My work always grows from that base medium. I guess you could say that my artwork/photography started out traditionally. Taking pictures of recognizable subjects. Examples would be that oh so popular shot of flowers or barns, bridges, cars in the state of distress rusting in that cool way they do if unmaintained. You get the idea. I began to change my thinking process when taking a shot. Thinking about how others would take a photograph and finding alternative ways to take the same photograph. Or I would seek to bring attention to objects people take for granted. Most of my collectors will immediately think about my take on fire hydrants. My eye continued to explore different angles, patterns, shadows and reflections my subjects would casts. Because of that exploration my work became more abstract. Photographing in a way that made my work that was already oversaturated by color more abstract. I began working with other artists collaboratively to twist my work even further. I enjoy my collaborations so much that this process became part of how I work regularly. I learn and grow continually from these collaborations. Adding what I learn to my creations. I think I’ve realized that my influences are mostly painters when I go out a work my craft. I think about Turner and his series of the Burning Houses of Parliament or about Prendergast and the way he paints so loosely. Recently I thought with my last exhibit “Chasing Turner” I hit a creative vein that has me very excited about what is to become of my artwork.

What do you like and dislike about the city?

As for Like and Dislikes I think I covered dislikes in the “Obstacles and Challenges” section. I dislike when art is pigeonholed into categories. Saying something is or isn’t art or a subset just beneath “real” art is shortsighted. Art should be defined by the viewer. I think that the definition of art will be debated as long as we humans roam the earth.

What I like is the community of artists I have some from. Just about every artist in the community I know supports each other. I don’t think I can say that about many communities I’m surrounded by. I love being able to collaborate with other artists. It’s been a process receive so much joy from. I love what I learn during these creative ventures, and I always enjoy the outcome. I like what I learn each and every time the end product is completed.

Pricing:

• 507 Tunis (24×36) $3800.00
• Leading (25×24) $2400.00
• Sonograph (34×24) $2100.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amphorartwork.com
• Instagram: @shofedart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cshofed/
• Other: Threads @shofedart

Image Credits

Headshot by Chris Marinara
Collaborative Artists: Alia Bensliman (507 Tunis) & Brigitte Aflalo-calderon