Artist Interview: Sophie Capshaw-Mack

Sophie Capshaw-Mack is an experimental artist who investigates the nature of consciousness. She creates beautiful collages using photography, video, and poetry to ponder philosophy, ethics, and metaphysics — and to navigate her mental health.

We asked Sophie about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

Sophie is particularly inspired by the idea of panpsychism, which posits that consciousness is ever-present in our universe. To explore this notion, Sophie imagines vibrant dreamscapes as an attempt to respond to existential questions.

Curiosity ultimately fuels Sophie’s creative process, which fuses traditional methods with digital techniques. Her upcoming series ‘EcoFutura’ was recently awarded funding by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Durham Arts Council.

Sophie holds a master’s in environmental science and policy from Columbia University, where she was an Environmental Fellow at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Sophie earned her bachelor’s in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Burch Fellow and a Parr Center for Ethics Fellow.

*To A Friend, 2023 by Sophie Capshaw-Mack*

Tell us about yourself and your background

I'm an experimental new media artist investigating the nature of consciousness. I utilize my art practice as a means of contemplating what science cannot yet explain about the mind and its relation to physical reality. By imagining vibrant dreamscapes, I attempt to respond to questions such as: How do non-human species think and process information? Do plants have feelings? Are machines self-aware? What are possible characteristics describing extraterrestrial forms of intelligence? What states of consciousness arise from conditions classified as psychiatric disorders?

I'm also constantly considering the ethical implications that arise from these overarching questions. Part of my nature is to question everything while I adopt a Socratic approach to life, admitting that ultimately all I know is that I know nothing at all. This mentality arises out of my love for philosophy, which I majored in as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

Back then, I focused a lot of my attention on feminist ethics and ideas in the philosophy of language. I used to be overwhelmed by the whole branch of metaphysics; looking back, I suppose I was not yet ready to confront concepts about reality, time, and existence. It’s interesting because now these are some of my favorite topics to ponder.

After graduating from UNC, I attended Columbia University on a fellowship where I earned a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Policy. The natural world, climate change, and environmental justice continuously inform my art as well. When I was at Columbia, I designed an independent study analyzing art, ethics, and climate change—essentially analyzing how art can be used to enact positive change and progress the climate movement to new heights.

Interestingly enough, I never formally studied art despite my lifelong passion for it. The reason for this is because I've constantly been told that being an artist for my career is neither practical nor financially sustainable. In recent years, however, I decided to stop caring about what other people think and say about my choices, reminding myself that I do not have to adopt such a limiting mindset.

“Part of my nature is to question everything while I adopt a Socratic approach to life, admitting that ultimately all I know is that I know nothing at all.”

— Sophie Capshaw-Mack

What inspires your art?

My mental health journey is a central part of my identity that also tremendously inspires my art practice. I'm neurodivergent with clinical diagnoses of Bipolar I Disorder and ADHD. Thus, a huge part of my fascination with the mind and consciousness arises from my lived experiences, which noticeably deviate from the Western ideals and hierarchies that define 'the norm.'

In the past, I've struggled immensely with debilitating depression, eating disorders, self-harm, suicide, mania, and even psychosis. As a result, I've been admitted to psychiatric units at various hospitals five times throughout my life. However, when contemplating my mental health, I do not adopt the dominant conceptual framework that necessarily portrays these issues as illnesses or disorders. In my opinion, such a paradigm oversimplifies the matter, overlooking foundational complexities and nuances. It also attempts to mask these issues with a metaphorical band-aid supplied by the medical industrial complex.

I have discovered that this widespread thought paradigm only resulted in my own self-hatred and shame, as if something was inherently wrong with me and needed external remediation to fix. I failed to appreciate the positive characteristics that arose from my diagnoses, including my boundless creativity and my ability to experience emotions at depths that exist beyond conventional norms. Furthermore, I neglected to consider the role of my past; all my mental health issues stemmed from a history of compound trauma, particularly related to abuse and gender-based violence.

I mention all of this not to seek sympathy, but rather to raise awareness and remind others that mental health and trauma are collective experiences that should not be sources of shame. Although I used to feel embarrassed about my mental health struggles, I have come to love my mind and fully embrace my differences in recent years. It's worth noting that I have been stable for several years now and have even reached a point where I no longer rely on psychiatric medication.

*Electric like me, 2023 by Sophie Capshaw-Mack*

Art has played a key role in my healing process. Creating has always been incredibly therapeutic for me. It provides a subjective outlet for expression, allowing me to safely channel my thoughts, transform my pain into beauty, honor my inner child, and genuinely have fun in the process. Through creative expression, I have been able to cultivate joy, self-love, and acceptance. I would also credit regular meditation, practicing gratitude, and having a supportive network that I can trust as integral parts of my healing.

What is an event which you consider a milestone in your digital art career?

In many ways, my career path in digital art officially launched in 2019 when I landed a position as an illustrator with Columbia University Press. After purchasing an iPad and subscribing to Adobe, I immersed myself in learning how to enhance my practice using technology. Another notable milestone was teaching myself 3D modeling last year. It may sound trivial, but conquering the software was a significant confidence booster as I had previously found it quite intimidating.

Overall, one aspect that I absolutely adore about digital art is the perpetual state of learning it offers. I constantly discover new techniques and find innovative ways to repurpose old ones. The possibilities are truly endless, given that technology is constantly advancing and evolving. Currently, I'm teaching myself creative coding with the aim of creating generative art installations in the future.

What does your creative process look like?

My creative process merges technology with conventional artistic practices. I often find it challenging to succinctly describe all the various components that contribute to the making of a single piece. I suppose a crucial early step in my process involves using software to deconstruct photographs of paintings, drawings, or sculptures that I initially created by hand. I then combine these deconstructed elements with photos and videos I've taken, which often document the natural environment or random occurrences in my life. As a visual learner, providing examples of past work is perhaps the easiest way to demonstrate my process.

On one occasion, I accidentally knocked over a jumbo-sized bottle of Tylenol, causing 500 pills to scatter across my floor. After ensuring the safety of my dogs, I proceeded to lie on the floor and have a photoshoot. I later utilized those images to create the artwork [(S)pill], which also includes photos of my clay sculptures.

Additionally, I enjoy weaving written elements into my art, drawing primarily from my poetry or journal entries. Last year, as a means of confronting intense grief following the death of my best friend, I ended up writing 27 poems in a month. I subsequently created this artistic video in his honor, incorporating excerpts from my poetry.

What is a fun fact about you?

I have two rescue dogs named Biscuit and Gravy, who are my best friends and biggest supporters in the world (in addition to my mom and sister). Biscuit and Gravy are also humongous, collectively weighing around 250 pounds. Biscuit is a shepherd mix, and Gravy is half mastiff. Most of the time when I'm creating art, you can find them napping at my feet.

*Biscuit and Gravy, photo by Sophie Capshaw-Mack*

Do you have any speaking engagements, awards, exhibitions you’d like to mention?

I have several exciting new projects currently under construction that I have not yet shared with the public. In the coming weeks, I will be announcing details about my first solo exhibition. If you're interested in learning more, be sure to follow me on Instagram. To see more of my work, you can also check out my website.

Here We Are by Sophie Capshaw-Mack