Michelle Campbell-Zurek, a.k.a. Myan Soffia, is an artist/photographer and a mama to one amazing human & several sweet fur babies. After 16 years spent smitten with Los Angeles, she is back in her hometown of Virginia Beach. She has over 20 years of experience as a working artist. After a long successful career as a fine art photographer she is now shifting her focus to exploring her other loves, painting and teaching art.
She is currently an art teacher at a wonderful home school co-op and also a substitute teacher for VBCPS. Last fall she was honored to be the Artist-in-Residence at Kingston Elementary school and this summer she is excited to have the opportunity to teach several summer art camps at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.
She is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Studio Arts. Her work can be found in private collections around the world and as set decor on several TV shows such as ABC’s Modern Family and The Rookie, in Lana Del Rey’s album Ultraviolence, published in books, and in national and international magazines such as HGTV and ELLE Girl Korea, as wall decor in hotels around the country and has been sold through retailers such as Urban Outfitters, West Elm and Target.
Leave Tracks
2026. acrylic
My paintings are usually much smaller in size and not in this style or in acrylic, but I wanted to create a piece that represents RBG’s bold nature and her legacy. Her iconic dissent collar is a beautiful symbol of hope, justice and resilience. I love this quote of hers:
“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Immigrant
2026. designer’s gouache
This piece was inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s pursuit for equality, dignity and respect for all, as well as my mother’s path to becoming a U.S. citizen. My mom is originally from Taiwan. She met my dad when he was in the Air Force and stationed in Taipei. Like many other U.S. citizens, she left her family, friends and culture behind because she fell in love. The courage and bravery it took to risk it all and start anew is extremely admirable. She was fierce in her life’s journey much like Ruth was in hers.
My mother is currently in hospice so I wanted this to resemble a journal entry. She shares a birth year with RBG, so it seems fitting to intertwine their life stories as Ruth was fighting and advocating for women and immigrants like my mom. This piece honors their perseverance and is also dedicated to all immigrants that left so much behind. This beautiful quote from a speech Ginsburg gave during a U.S. Naturalization ceremony sums it up perfectly:
“Today, you join more than 20 million current citizens born in other lands who chose, as you have, to make the United States of America their home. We are a nation made strong by people like you: People who traveled long distances, overcame great obstacles, and made tremendous sacrifices—all to provide a better life for themselves and their families.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Art shop: InkPaperCamera.com
Instagram: @MyanSoffia and @MyanSoffiaPhotography
