High and Mighty is a new solo exhibition by Pittsburgh-based illustrator, Sophia Pappas. The show unveils a fantastical pantheon of gods and deities, that embodies Sophia’s fascination with powerful bodies, vibrant patterns, and traditions in religious art.  

Sophia’s imagery incoroporates influences drawn from her curiosity and passion for exploring art history. This body of work continues her ongoing exploration of representing the sacred. Sophia is also the maker of our Coral Street facing mural titled Win Some Lose Some created back in 2022. The research done for that piece involved multiple visits to St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale to study the Maxo Vanka Murals. 

She also enjoys blending visual traditions from across the globe—ancient Maya depictions of gods in towering stelae, the bold iconography of medieval Christianity, the eloquent hand gestures of Greco-Roman orators, and the meticulous ornamentation of Japanese Kazari. By mixing and matching these rich cultural references, Sophia creates a fantastical, contemporary vision that pays homage to these diverse traditions.
Drawing from her background in editorial illustration and letterpress printing, Sophia’s work blends printmaking, illustration and commercial art techniques to generate a vibrant world.The exhibition includes paintings on wood panels, hand-constructed books, and intricate embroidery, each piece serving as a different lens through which the artist attempts to solve a persistent, personal puzzle: how can one visually represent power, presence, and the divine?

High and Mighty is a new solo exhibition by Pittsburgh-based illustrator, Sophia Pappas. The show unveils a fantastical pantheon of gods and deities, that embodies Sophia’s fascination with powerful bodies, vibrant patterns, and traditions in religious art.  
Sophia’s imagery incoroporates influences drawn from her curiosity and passion for exploring art history. This body of work continues her ongoing exploration of representing the sacred. Sophia is also the maker of our Coral Street facing mural titled Win Some Lose Some created back in 2022. The research done for that piece involved multiple visits to St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale to study the Maxo Vanka Murals. 

She also enjoys blending visual traditions from across the globe—ancient Maya depictions of gods in towering stelae, the bold iconography of medieval Christianity, the eloquent hand gestures of Greco-Roman orators, and the meticulous ornamentation of Japanese Kazari. By mixing and matching these rich cultural references, Sophia creates a fantastical, contemporary vision that pays homage to these diverse traditions.

Drawing from her background in editorial illustration and letterpress printing, Sophia’s work blends printmaking, illustration and commercial art techniques to generate a vibrant world.The exhibition includes paintings on wood panels, hand-constructed books, and intricate embroidery, each piece serving as a different lens through which the artist attempts to solve a persistent, personal puzzle: how can one visually represent power, presence, and the divine?

Exhibition