Though Sophia can’t recall the exact moment they first picked up a pencil, their early childhood works were often found on anything but paper—furniture, walls, and more. “I drew on so much furniture as a kid,” they share. “But the one drawing I still have from childhood is of a nature goddess with a rabbit next to her. I tried to recreate it in high school, but it just didn’t feel the same.”

They fondly recall playing a drawing game with their family, called "beat that," during long drives for day trips. “We’d sit in a circle, each person drawing something, and the next person would draw something that could ‘beat’ the previous creation—no death or black holes allowed,” Sophia laughs.

As a teenager, Sophia would purge old drawings while cleaning their room—only keeping the ones that felt authentic. “I was very critical of myself,” they reflect. “But I guess that’s part of the process of finding your voice as an artist.”

Sophia also experiences life in a way that most people are unfamiliar with. They live with aphantasia, a condition where individuals are unable to create mental images. For Sophia, this means that when they think of something, they do not "see" it in their brain.

"I don’t see anything in my mind," they explain. "I have a hard time imagining things, and that’s kind of part of my process in terms of how I make work. I think in a very tactile way, and I’m much more focused on things that I can hold, shape, or manipulate."

Sophia Koch-Holdsworth’s decision to attend the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) came from encouragement from a high school art teacher, plus a desire to be part of an environment that would nurture their growth as an artist.

“I like the idea of being pushed. Like, it’s good to have that push, and it’s nice to feel like you’re in a community that is supportive. But also, you have that push where you know you’re working really hard and really learning things... it feels good because you’re developing yourself and your voice as an artist,” Sophia said.

KCAI’s Ceramics Department has a structured yet flexible atmosphere that encourages students to develop their personal voices while learning technical skills. It’s a place where students can experiment freely, but it’s also a space where guidance from faculty ensures they’re honing their craft in ways that are intentional and meaningful.

“I think part of it, yes, is being part of a community that is so supportive, but also, you have that push where you know you’re working really hard and really learning things… it feels good because you’re developing yourself and your voice as an artist.”

Sophia also shares a love for animals, particularly dogs, which often appear in their work. Their connection with their pets is as deep as their connection to their art. “Pepper was a sassy little dog with so much attitude—she felt like the reincarnation of someone,” says Sophia.

“Chewy is still with us, and she’s this old, quirky dog we found through a connection with my dad, who’s a bereavement coordinator. It’s funny how life works, especially when you find things like that.”

Sophia in Studio