Artist Statement

My practice blurs the imaginary boundaries between art, craft and design. I am happiest when working with my hands, and enjoy the challenge of transforming what has been overlooked and coaxing meaning from the undervalued. I make objects, experiences, and installations. My primary materials are textiles, wood, words, and salvaged materials. Whether investigating materials, processes, function, or form – I let the work inform me, both as mentor and muse.

Biography

Sonia was born and raised in Canada. She is a lifelong student who started out in engineering before exploring languages, art and design. She has a BDes in Communication Design and a MFA in Studio, Interdisciplinary Art.

Sonia was based in Toronto, Tokyo, and Hong Kong prior to moving to Halifax. Her communication design career spanned branding and identity, publications, packaging, wayfinding and interior graphics. She was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts for Graphic Design in 2011.

In 2018, the experience of carving a 4-tonne ice sculpture compelled her return to school. She received the SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Scholarship in 2020.

Sonia created three ephemeral art suites for Icehotel Sweden; was artist-in-residence at the Textile Museum of Canada (2024) and at Centre for Craft Nova Scotia’s wood studio (2022-23); and recipient of Arts Nova Scotia Research/Creation grants.