Artist fueled by brother’s memory to create puppets larger-than-life

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Multimedia artist Sofia Hernandez Crade creates movable puppets, some over two stories tall.

She started creating the puppets after her brother died. She said she wanted to start doing art that would make him proud.

“I think he would definitely be smiling down," Crade said about her brother, Demitri. "He would definitely want people to push themselves, and I think he would be excited and proud.”

Crade said her brother inspires her to never settle. Instead of focusing on commissions, she started pushing her limits, building massive puppets piece-by-piece inside her living room.

“Life is short. I don’t want anything to stand in my way," Crade said.

Crade started with a 24-foot-tall puppet of one of her idols, the late Manitou Springs painter Charles Rockey.

“I made Rockey the same year Demitri had died as well, so for me, it was kind of coming back to life," Crade said.

Crade helped Rockey return to the Manitou Springs Carnivale parade, where he was a regular during his life.

“I felt like half of Manitou was coming to me, giving me huge hugs. 'Thanks for creating this piece. You brought back my friend. You brought back my dad,"' Crade said.

Crade is currently working on a giant Peregine Falcon puppet that will be featured in the 2026 Green Box Art Festival in Green Mountain Falls. She plans to build it with wings that can spread out and retract like the real bird.

Crade still works out of her living room while she tries to secure a studio. She still has Rockey, still fully functional, stored away in a storage unit. She is now on her sixth puppet build.

Each puppet has full mobility of its joints. The heads, mouths, arms and more move like the actual animals and people they replicate.