Sophie Copeland (b. 1999) is a ceramic artist based in Richmond, Virginia who has been working in clay since 2018.
Her playful forms and use of hard and soft imagery reimagine traditional tableware and functional ceramics. She adds a delicately personal touch with meticulous hand-built forms and whimsical fine-line paintings to create tangible clay vignettes. Copeland’s work has been chosen for various local and regional group exhibitions, including NCECA’s 2024 National Conference. She has completed custom commissions for noteworthy clients such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Copeland’s commercial work is sold in various retail stores nationally, most notably Santa Barbara, Phoenix, and Richmond.
CV:
EDUCATION
2021 BFA Craft + Material Studies, Ceramics, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCUarts)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Too Hot to Handle, SOCO Gallery, Charlotte, NC. Curated by Grace Stott.
2024 Hard on the Outside, Soft on the Inside, Secret Flowers Studio, Richmond, VA. Curated by Kelsey Copeland for NCECA 2024.
2024 Charm to Burn, Pamplemousse Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Kevin Sabo and Mary Fleming for NCECA 2024.
2023 Desire Paths, Pamplemousse Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Kevin Sabo and Mary Fleming.
2022 Pamplemousse, Solitary Confinement, Richmond, VA. Curated by Kevin Sabo.
2022 Craft BFA Capstone Exhibition, The Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Blair Clemo.
2021 Craft Consciousness, The Anderson Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Chlo Finley.
2018 Decomposition, The Hawthorne Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Hannah Shaban.
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
2025 Interview with Caitlin Rance: “Meet: Sophie Copeland.” Thank You Very Much. Online.
2022 “Metamorphosis”, Issue 14, Ink Magazine. Richmond, VA.
2021 Interview with Hope Olivant: “A Chat with Sophie…” Ink Magazine. Richmond, VA.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Summer 2022 Visiting Teacher: Polymer Clay workshops: Diego Sanchez, St. Catherine’s School, Richmond, VA.
Spring 2022 Visiting Teacher: Paper Mache workshop, Professor: Diego Sanchez, St. Catherine’s School, Richmond, VA.
Spring 2022 Substitute Teacher: Digital Photography, Professor: Amanda Livick, St. Christopher’s Upper School, Richmond, VA.