Artist CV

Sofia Minson's key art awards, projects and exhibitions

Bio

Since 2004 Sofia Minson’s paintings have been exhibited and collected globally. The artist is inspired by her mixed Ngāti Porou Māori, Swedish, English and Irish heritage as well as Aotearoa’s people, land, forests and birds. Minson has created large-scale public artworks, been featured in documentaries and won three national art awards. Sofia spent much of her childhood in Samoa, Sri Lanka and China due to her father’s civil engineering work. Now painting from her Auckland studio, her contemporary portraits, landscapes and images of nature contain symbols from ancient cultures that celebrate connections between diverse peoples.

Awards

2012 - People's Choice Winner, Adam Portraiture Awards, Christchurch leg of the exhibition
2012 - Finalist, Adam Portraiture Awards, Wellington, NZ
2010 - 1st Prize, ART Auckland Awards, Auckland East Arts Council, NZ
2010 - Finalist, Adam Portraiture Awards, Wellington, NZ
2008 - Finalist, Adam Portraiture Awards, Wellington, NZ
2007 - Diploma of Excellence, Artoteque's online global art annual
2005 - 1st Prize, Auckland East Arts Council Art Competition, NZ
2005 - 1st Prize, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane, NZ
2004 - Merit Award, Auckland East Arts Council Art Competition, NZ

Education

2005 - Bachelor of Art and Design, Auckland University of Technology

Solo Exhibitions

2018 – Solo exhibition "The Navigators" at Artbay Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2017 – Solo exhibition "Sacred Mirrors" at Parnell Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 – Solo exhibition at Parnell Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2012 – Solo exhibition at the Gallery Helena Bay Hill, Northland, NZ
2011 – Solo exhibition at Red Spot Gallery, Rotorua, NZ
2010 – Solo exhibition at Toi o Tahuna Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2009 – Solo exhibition at McCarthy Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2009 – Solo exhibition at the Gallery Helena Bay Hill, Northland, NZ
2008 – Solo exhibition “Beyond Wrongdoing and Rightdoing” at Toi o Tahuna Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2008 – Solo exhibition at Erenus Art Gallery, Ankara, TURKEY
2008 – Solo exhibition at the Gallery Helena Bay Hill, Northland, NZ
2007 – Solo exhibition “The Rope of Mankind” at Aveia Gallery, Auckland, NZ

Key Projects and Events

Feb 2013 – Painting Live at Waikato Sculpture Park with "Inspiring Creative Spaces" Initiative
Nov 2012 – The BIG Urban Paste-Up commission of a 9 x 15 metre portrait by Sofia on a public wall in Newmarket
Jan 2012 – Guest artist at the Whakatane Arts Festival as a previous recipient of Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award
Nov 2011 – The New Zealand Portrait Gallery commissioned Sofia to paint Dame Joan Metge's portrait
Nov 2011 – Collaborative painting project with Orakei School children
Oct 2011 – Live painting demonstration at the New Zealand Fellowship of Artists' Gallery
Nov 2010 – Art Week Auckland 'Insiders Guide', Sofia gave a talk at Parnell Gallery introducing her artwork to an exclusive tour group
Oct 2010 – Guest artist and live painting demonstration at ARTauckland 2010
Sep 2010 – Judge of North Shore City Art Awards. Fellow judges Liz Caughey and Jeff Thompson
Jun 2010 – Guest Speaker at the Emerging Artist Forum at Satellite Gallery in Newton
Jun 2010 – “Without Boundaries – Art for Autism” collaborative painting project between Sofia and autistic children
Feb 2010 – "Canvassing The Treaty" collaborative arts project and documentary
Feb 2009 – "Shave an Artist" art auction & artist head shaving fundraiser initiated by Sofia for The Leukaemia & Blood Foundation

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013 – "Aho Whenua - Threads sown from Earth" Exhibition at Pataka Art + Museum, Wellington, NZ
2011 – "The Makers of Modern NZ" Exhibition at NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2011 – Joint Show with Aaron Kereopa at Toi o Tahuna Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2011 – Joint Show "Connecting Threads" with Matt Gauldie at Parnell Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2010 – Adam Portraiture Awards national touring exhibition of finalists, NZ
2010 – "What it is to be Kiwi" group show at Harrisons Gallery, Tauranga, NZ
2010 – “Inner Strength” women’s charity exhibition, NZ Art Guild at Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, NZ
2009 – “My Favourite Things” group show at Harrisons Gallery, Tauranga, NZ
2009 – Kings College Art Sale, Auckland, NZ
2009 – Atamira | Maori in the City, creative expo at Auckland Showgrounds, NZ
2009 – Winter group show at Toi o Tahuna Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2009 – Baradene College Art Show, Auckland, NZ
2008 – Adam Portraiture Award Exhibition, NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington, NZ
2008 – International group show, The Dolmabahce Palace Museum, Istanbul, TURKEY
2007 – Xmas group show at the Artist’s Room Gallery, Dunedin, NZ
2007 – “Whence We Came” charity show for Kidney Kids, Ashton Grove, Auckland, NZ
2007 – Aaron Kereopa & Sofia’s exhibition at Toi o Tahuna Gallery, Queenstown, NZ
2007 – Australian and New Zealand Art Exhibition at Agora Gallery, New York, USA
2007 – “Meridian Energy Plunket Art Show 2007″, Aigantighe Art Gallery, Timaru, NZ
2007 – “Mid Summer Night’s Dream” group exhb, Tara Poolman Gallery, Matakana, NZ
2007 – “Adore – Cherishing the Feminine”, group show, Haven Art, Waipu, NZ
2007 – “Northern Light”, group show, Haven Art, Waipu, NZ
2006 – “Magic” international group exhibition at Estense Castle in Ferrara, ITALY
2006 – Mazda Artworks, The Hilton Auckland, NZ
2006 – “Artshowcase” Sofia featured artist, Auckland East Arts Council, Grace Joel, NZ
2006 – True Colours Charitable Trust Art Auction, NZ
2005 – Auckland East Arts Council Art Exhibition, NZ
2005 – Saint Kentigern School Parents and Friends Fundraising Event, NZ
2005 – “Different Places Different Faces”, 3 artist show, Lake House Gallery, Akl, NZ
2005 – Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane, NZ
2004 – NZ Runway, Fashion Week, Auckland viaduct, NZ
2004 – Grace Joel Exhibition, Auckland, NZ
2004 – Ronald McDonald House Charity Silent Auction, NZ