Artists & Crafts
She’s a teacher, a historian, an unofficial counselor and a community leader, but Sonya Clemons is probably best known as the Artlady. She earned her moniker by painting murals throughout north Alabama, transforming blank walls into beautiful pieces that tell the stories of individual communities and their identities.
Born in Huntsville, Clemons has lived in Scottsboro since 1990. Her body of work is all about Southern culture. Most recently, she was commissioned to create a piece of art for the 92nd Anniversary Commemoration of the Scottsboro Boys, which is on display at the Scottsboro Boys Museum. No matter what surface she’s painting on – walls, city sidewalks, a simple canvas – she creates images that are full of color and life.
The Artlady brings that same color and life into the work she does in the community. Seven years ago, Clemons created a grant-winning arts program for Scottsboro’s Drug Court. She teaches art classes for those in the recovery community and their families. It’s proven to be a genuine path toward healing.
