Sonja de Graaf
Degree: BA
University: LABA Academy of Fine Art / Florence Italy
Graduation Year: 2008
New Blood Art Commentary
Sonja de Graaf’s paintings swell with bella figura; aesthetic forms and dancing gestures celebrate youth, beauty and energy. Photographic sources become animated by paint and flavoursome textures are re-rendered with broad sweeps of colour.
De Graaf’s zest for life is evident in her painting. This Dutch artist honed her skills at LABA Academy of Fine Arts, Florence, and then was assistant to the renowned installation artist, Vittorio Corsini.
Artist Statement
Sonja de Graaf was born in The Netherlands and in 2001 she moved to Florence where she graduated at the Libera Accademia di Belle Arti. Her paintings investigate the beauty, the energy and the turmoils of women's youth. With a skilful and evocative use of colour she breaks the veil of the dominant aesthetic to reveal the innocence, the fragility and the sweetness, the humanity of the subjects in which their real and intimate sensuality lies.
Solo Exhibitions
(2015) And there she was, Creative Collective, Firenze, Italy
(2014) The Flower Electric, OPC Chianti, San Donato in Poggio, Italy
Group Exhibitions
(2022) Questione di forme, Associazione la Mosca, Firenze
(2022) Abril tras novas cores, Escola de artes Mestre Fernando Rodrigues, Lagoa Portugal
(2022) Art on a Postcard, The Bomb Factory, London
(2016) International Watercolor Biennial Belgrade, Galerija A, Belgrade Serbia
(2013) The story of the creative, Angel Orensanz Foundation, New York, USA
(2012) L'arte della fuga, Casa Masaccio, San Giovanni Val d'Arno
(2012) International Art exhibition and art forum, CEIBS, Shanghai
(2011) Permanent Collection, Tannaz, Firenze, Italy
(2009) Art Verona, Fiera, Verona, Italy
(2009) Videt, International video and art festival, Villafranca del Penedés, Spain
(2008) Fragile, Cortile del Podere, Siena, Italy
(2008) Ciudadania, Centre de Cultura de Dones Francesca Bonnemaison, Barcelona, Spain
(2008) Art Verona, Fiera, Verona, Italy
(2008) Dragmagic, International womens short film festival, Barcelona, Spain
(2007) Streghe e altre donne, Site Specific installation, Scontrone, Italy
(2007) Festival della Creatività, Fortezza da Basso, Firenze, Italy
(2006) Rotte Metropolitane, Accademia di Belle Arti, Firenze, Italy
(2006) Convergenze, Galleria 05, Santa Croce sull'Arno, Italy
(2006) Florencimiento, Palazzo Reale, Cagliari, Italy
(2006) Dialoghi Muti, C.U.R.E., Firenze, Italy
(2006) Clessidra, Vera Pietra Serena, Firenze, Italy
(2006) I Shall Sing, Aloe & Wolf, Siena, Italy
(2006) Realtà Parallele, Spazio 126, Siena, Italy
(2006) Costellazione, Galleria 05, Santa Croce sull'Arno, Italy
(2005) Verso i monti dei Profumi, Villa Poggio Reale, Rufina, Italy
(2004) Perpetua, Vera Pietra Serena, Firenze, Italy
(2004) Florencimiento, Uffizi Center, Firenze, Italy