We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Roxy Sora a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Roxy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

On July 2019, I created a project called “For the Love of Family and Art” together with a school for students with special needs. We wanted to provide the students and their families a day they could spend creating something together, not just pieces of art but also memories and knowing they accomplished it together, surrounded by love and support of all of the volunteers. We raised enough money for all of the art materials and recruited 30 volunteers (5 of them were artists who donated their time to help me create the art work the students would use as examples). We had live music and many vendors donated food and drinks. The project was a complete success. The families had the best time with their kids. This was the most unforgettable experience for everyone involved and for me, one that I would like to recreate many times over.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born in Cuba. In, 1961, at the age of 8 my parents sent my 7 year old sister and me alone to the United States in order to avoid being sent to Russia for indoctrination as Fidel Castro promised he would do to every child. We were part of 14,000 children sent to Miami via Operation Peter Pan, and distributed to orphanages and foster homes throughout the U.S. until we could reunite with our parents. It was at the orphanage that I began to draw and paint. This is how I was able to communicate since I did not speak the language. I would also use my drawings to let my parents know everything was fine and not to worry. My mother still has some of these drawings. I felt that through my art I could communicate to those I loved that everything would be fine. These drawings were uplifting to my parents. I found that my work could positively impact others, and even inspire them to see the beauty and possibilities in our lives.

When we were finally reunited with our parents in 1962, there were no jobs in Miami so we relocated to New Jersey, where my father held 2 full time jobs, 7days a week and my mom worked in a factory. When I graduated from high school in 1972, I decided my best option was to attend secretarial school in NY to give me an opportunity to get the skills I needed for a job and an opportunity to build a career. I moved my parents and my sister to Miami in 1973. My first interview landed me a position as Executive Secretary to the owner of an insurance agency and his son in law. I was given an opportunity to climb the corporate ladder, first by becoming a licensed insurance agent, one of the first sales women at the agency, then ascended to sales manager, later Chief Operating Officer and finally President of one of the Divisions. Next year will mark my 50th Anniversary with the firm.

Throughout all these years, painting remained my outlet during stressful times and always brought me joy and peace.

I have worked with many different mediums and subjects, but the work that is most rewarding to me and I have been doing for the past 10 years is abstract art, specifically the pouring process. In abstract art there is “no right or wrong”, it is what the viewer interprets in the piece. I think the greatest compliment an artist can receive is when their audience/viewer sees the vision the artist was looking to convey on canvas and they confirm the feeling of awe and wonder the art, and therefore the artist, expresses.

In the corporate world and throughout my career, I always tried to connect with my clients, associates and business partners. I think that this is what sets me apart. The ability to connect and transmit the possibilities that are available whether in the business or the art world.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What is most rewarding to me as an artist is that my work is able to transport my audience/viewer to a place of beauty, wonder and awe no matter what their circumstance may be at that moment. They are able to feel the possibility of what can be and experience the same joy I felt while creating the piece, but in terms they connect to and is relevant to their personal experience and/or journey.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In my life there were many times I had to pivot based on what life had in store for me such as leaving Cuba alone at the age of 8 to the US and to an orphanage.

Finishing High School and not being able to pursue an art career because I needed to get into the work force to help the family get a strong foothold in another country.

Luckily it all worked out and I was able to build a successful business career and a beautiful family. Today I am able to fulfill my art career as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.roxysora.com and www.roxanazubia.com
• Instagram: @roxysoraartist
• Facebook: ArtfulMoments by Roxy Sora
• Twitter: Roxysorart

Image Credits
Photography of art pieces by Art D Plus