— Art Connects Us
Reconnect with your intrinsic creativity and prioritize your own well-being.
Reconnect with your intrinsic creativity and prioritize your own well-being.
Caregiving can be very overwhelming, and the mental and emotional toll is undeniable. And amidst all the decision-making and worry about your loved one, you’re probably carrying many feelings at once. You’re not alone: up to 59% of family caregivers rate their emotional stress as high or very high. Many caregivers feel chronically stressed, lonely, or experience burnout.
Hi, I’m Sonya
I’m a working artist and educator. My 10+ years of experience working with dementia caregivers confirmed what I already knew was true:
Engaging with art has the power to transform lives.
Working with family caregivers has redefined my ideas about who and what art is for. As it turns out, the people who need art the most are the ones with heartache to process. Art is about having an outlet to work through what’s troubling you. Making art has changed my life, as my personal art practice has given me a place to process my own grief and loss—a lifelong journey I continue to be on.
Imagine having a positive space and outlet to express your complex emotions! Caregivers I’ve worked with report feeling more calm, less sad, less angry—and they feel inspired to continue using art as self-care.
— Art instruction rooted in care.
The Art Circle
I’m Sonya, artist and educator with over 30 years experience teaching art. I offer programs for dementia caregivers, college-bound students, and 1-on-1 art instruction tailored to you or your loved-one’s needs.
— Explore Our Offerings
Creating Connections Through Art
Engage in transformative art experiences that nurture growth, self-expression, and meaningful relationships at every age.
Art for Caregivers
Learn how art can help you connect with yourself and your loved-one living with dementia.
1-on-1 Art Instruction
Art experiences tailored to individual growth and learning.
Art for College Bound Students
Create your winning art portfolio to successfully apply to universities and art schools.
About Sonya
30+
10+
Years of Art Education Experience
Years Assisting Dementia Communities
Sonya Blesofsky is a visual artist and art professor with 30 years of experience teaching art in museums, universities, art schools and community organizations. Over the past 15 years her work as an artist and educator has focused on accessibility, working extensively with people with disabilities in museum and university settings. Building upon her experience with disability populations, she has spent more than 10 years working with people living with dementia and their caregivers through programs at The Jewish Museum and NYU Langone’s Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias Family Support Program in New York City.
From 2012-2014 Blesofsky participated in a grant-funded initiative at the Guggenheim Museum that trained educators in Universal Design for Learning, an approach to teaching that emphasizes accessibility and the diverse needs of all learners. A life-long learner herself, Blesofsky’s commitment to learning can be seen in her own works of art, as well as in her caring and open approach to all learners. She creates inviting environments in which to learn, and warmly encourages all learners to express their specific point of view.
Blesofsky has taught at the Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Arts and Design, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Jewish Museum as well as Brooklyn College, Purchase College and Parsons The New School. Blesofsky’s artwork has been shown at galleries throughout New York and the United States. Her artwork is inspired by the city, and explores personal and collective memory and loss. Blesofsky grew up in Southern California, and lives and works in New York City. She holds an MFA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and BAs in Studio Art and Community Studies from UC Santa Cruz.