In 1989, Sonya became and Associate Artist with J.P. Art Enterprise on Hilton Head Island, SC. Joe Pinckney, who was an artist as well, owned and operated the business. He recognized her talent when he was introduced to her by another artist and immediately wanted her as a part of his team. While working with Mr. Pinckney, Sonya has exhibited at Valdosta State College in Valdosta, GA., The People's Theater Gallery in Milwaukee, WI. and the Gullah Festival in Beaufort, SC.
Sonya would seek new direction with her work and join forces with two local artists, Napoleon Wilkerson and Ogbonna Mossi. They went on to form the collaborative called "Creative Mind Images". The three came together to express a common interest through the medium of art. Motivated by issues that affected the African American community, the threesome knew that they more power together. They realized that images influenced people's thinking, so what better way to have an impact but through their art.
Sonya has proven that persistence pays off by the many shows that were to come. Sonya has exhibited in a woman show at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala., Savannah State University in Savannah, GA, The Lucy Laney Museum in Augusta, GA., the Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon, GA., Rollins College in Orlando, FL., the African American Atelier in Durham, NC and many other cities including Chicago, Atlanta and Minneapolis.
Sonya has participated in several art festivals, in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 2006 she participated in the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA. She was accepted to participate in the Detroit Festival of the Arts in Detroit, MI., Bethesda Row Arts Festival in Rockville, MA and the Gullah Festival in Beaufort, SC,.
Sonya was featured in the 1992 August/September issue of American Visions Magazine, where she was named one of eight up-and-coming Artists.
Her work is in the collections of Susan Taylor, former Editor-n-Chief of Essence Magazine, singer Gladys Knight, Shaun Stockman of Boys II Men, Actress/Producer Debbie Allen and Shirley Childress-Saxton from Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Sonya has produced Illustrations for a children's book called "Latrice's Flower Garden", written by Lorraine Johnson-Coleman and produced by the Savannah College of Art & Design Press. Some of her images can be found on greeting cards published by The Heritage Collection Greeting Card Co., in New York, NY.