When My Mom Had Me (Since I Was Born) by Sonia Prado

Sonia Prado has been working out of ECF Art Centers' South L.A. studio since 2015. Her studio practice and commitment has no match. Her dedication to her art work reflects that of a warrior. It is clear that she reveres women wrestlers, female pop stars like Selena, and singing groups like the Spice Girls. If her aura screams anything, it is certainly “Girl Power.” It is with this same girl power attitude her work is made. From drilling circles into a wood board or drawing circles for hours, there is a fine balance between creating and what is created in her work. At times, what grabs one the most is her artist talks, the narrative behind the work. If she is not talking about her fascination with pop stars, she is sharing a story about her family, her strongest fan base. They cheer her on as if she is in a ring, boxing with her canvas, literally.  Sonia tackles her art projects with a clear intention. From printmaking to ceramics, her career is due for exponential achievement.

“I like watching wrestling so much, it inspires me a lot. I want to go against Charlotte Flair in a steel cage match—Hell in a Cell! Just me and her, no one else. I’m gonna steal her title belt and her fans. I’m gonna be the new Smackdown woman champion.

I draw myself next to Melanie C. I love the Spice girls a lot because they’re in my heart. I saw them in concert a long time ago. We were singing and dancing and we saw my favorite Spice Girl! It was fun. I wanna be cool just like them.

I’m Sonia Prado and I’m an artist. I’m focused, too. This is my life. I keep it in my dreams.

I like to paint I do watercolors. I like to draw the Spice Girls and me and my cousins. I want to be a singer like Melanie C and my cousins could be Spice Girls too. I like women’s wrestling. My favorite is Team Bella, the Bella twins. Brie does the “Running Knee” You have to run and hit the knee on the neck. That’s her move. They all have their own move. My move is the “Figure 8,” just like Charlotte Flair. You grab the feet first and turn around but I don’t like Charlotte Flair because she do it to Brie. When she did that to my Brie – wow – I felt sad I hope she don’t do the “Figure 8” on me. When she do the “Figure 8” on me I will reverse it! And then they will call “1, 2, 3!” And I will be the Diva’s Champion. The WWE Smack down women’s champion. To celebrate we will be at the house just chillin’ with me and my cousins and they will do a toast like “To Sonia, because she’s so solid – This is for her!” And they’ll chant “Sonia! Sonia! Sonia!” That’s it.”

-Sonia Prado