About Sonja
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Artist Bio
I am a California native who grew up going to Joshua Tree frequently with my family and currently split my time between Joshua Tree and the beach. I hold a bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley, a master's degree from Gonzaga and studied art at Cal State University Long Beach, Parsons in NYC as well as in several workshops with leading artists.
My work has been in solo and group art shows throughout California and can be currently found in collections in the Bay Area, Chicago, Portugal, New York City, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Marin, Newport Beach, Cleveland, Indio, Joshua Tree, Costa Mesa, to name just a few.
I just completed jurying a show "Flower Power" at Long Beach Creative Group - after having my proposal selected and just received a paid commission by the City of Laguna Beach to paint a 16'x4' banner to hang on the street alongside this longstanding banner tradition during the summer during Pageant of the Masters. I am also a permanent artist at Quorum Gallery Laguna Beach. My work has been selected three consecutive times for the Joshua Tree National Parks show exhibition. Most recently I won first prize at the 29 Palms art Gallery member show. I am also included in Katie Nartonis' most recent book "California Desert Artists."
Artist Statement
With my work, I want to transport the viewer into the feeling of the space or a moment for either a shared or possibly unique experience. My work is frequently about landscape - the land and space around us - and I usually allow the process of mark making to direct the work. Just as in life we must allow for the spontaneous and unexpected to enjoy some of the richest moments, so I try to allow that in my art as well. Sometimes this results in representational work and sometimes it results in highly abstracted or non-objective compositions. My work is inspired by color, light, composition, mystery and layers, which like life events and decisions, build its texture. I work primarily in two mediums: encaustic- the fusing of layers of wax and damar resin - which I often combine with mixed media; and acrylic which I love because of its rapid drying enabling me to, like wax, build layers.
"I thrive on creating visually a mystery that cannot be expressed in words."
2026 Exhibitions
Quorum Gallery - Laguna Beach
Ongoing Quorum Gallery Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA Juried Permanent Artist
Centered on the Center - Huntington Beach Art Center
January 25 - March 30, 2025 Huntington Beach Art Center Huntington Beach, CA
24rd annual Art That’s Small at City Hall Exhibition
March 25 - April 30 Laguna Beach City Hall
Juniper Arts - Joshua Gallery
Ongoing (except June for special ceramics show) Juniper Arts.
Orange County Fair
July 17-August 16 at the Orange County Fairgrounds
2025 Exhibitions
Quorum Gallery - Laguna Beach
Ongoing Quorum Gallery Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA Juried Permanent Artist
Centered on the Center - Huntington Beach Art Center
January 25 - March 30, 2025 Huntington Beach Art Center Huntington Beach, CA
29 Palms Art Gallery - Members Juried Show
March 1-March 30 29 Palms Art Gallery, 29 Palms CA FIRST PLACE PRIZE WINNER
23rd annual Art That’s Small at City Hall Exhibition
March 25 - April 30 Laguna Beach City Hall
Laguna Beach Banner Competition Winner!
Summer , Laguna Beach - Banners on display - Main Beach !
2024 Exhibitions
Quorum Gallery - Laguna Beach
Jan 1 - March 31 Quorum Gallery - Guest Artist Pacific Coast Hwy, CA Juried Guest Artist
Galen Center for the Arts - Palm Springs - Desert Landscape Show
January 18-Feb 4 Galen Center - Palm Desert Combined juried show with the PD Plein Air Group
Centered on the Center - Huntington Beach Art Center
January 27 - March 18, 2024 Huntington Beach Art Center Huntington Beach, CA
29 Palms Art Gallery - Joshua Tree National Parks Juried Show
March 1-March 30 29 Palms Art Gallery, 29 Palms CA HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE WINNER
Election Postcard Show
Election Postcard Show 5x7 - Bill Schinsky Studio, Cathedral City
Hi-Desert Artists - Beyond the Sand
November 1 - 30, Yucca Valley, CA, Hi-Desert Arts,, Group Show - 4 artists
2023 and 2022 Exhibitions
John Wayne Airport Show!
Closed July 2023 Terminal A & Terminal C
https://www.ocair.com/news/2022/06/10/vi-smith-4x4x15/
See collection called Interrupted
Centered on the Center - HB Art Center
January 28 - March 11 2023
https://www.huntingtonbeachartcenter.org/centered-on-the-center-2023-virtual-exhibition.html
Inspired Show - HB Art Center - 2023
October 21 - December 16, 2023
Meditative Reflections at the John Wayne Airport
October 18 through November 30, 2023.
29 Palms Art Gallery - Joshua Tree National Parks Juried Show
Juried Show - Nov 1 - Nov 30 2023 Featured Artists – JTNP Council for the Arts (jtnparts.org)
Solo Show- "Desert Crawl" Historic 29 Palms Art Gallery!
Inspired HB - Art Center - 2022
Joshua Tree Art Gallery - JTAG
Juried Show - October 2022
Open Studios! Hwy 62!
October 15-16 2022
ARTIST RESUME
Education
University of California Berkeley - BA
Gonzaga University - MA
Parsons School of Design - Certificate
California State University, Long Beach - Coursework
Exhibitions - 2022
- John Wayne Airport Arts Program, Juried Exhibition, Santa Ana, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Centered on the Center, Group Exhibition
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival, Yountville, CA - In May - Accepted
Exhibitions - 2021
- Twentynine Palms Art Gallery, Joshua Tree National Park Arts , Juried Group Exhibition, CA
- Las Lagunas Gallery, Open Theme, Juried Group Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Surfing the Pacific Rim, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach , CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Inspired 2021, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Las Laguna Gallery, Painterly, Group Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CA
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival, Yountville, CA
Exhibitions - 2020
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Inspired 2020, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Palm Springs Art Museum, Profiled Covid Art, Palm Springs, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Centered on the Center, Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival Online, Yountville, CA
Exhibitions - 2019
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Inspired 2019, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA - Work secleted for Event PROMOTIONAL piece
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Centered on the Center, Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA -
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Surf City Days, Juried Art Festival, Huntington Beach, CA
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival , Yountville, CA - Art selected for all promotional material.
Exhibitions - 2018
- Las Lagunas Gallery, Botanika, Juried Group Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Inspired 2018, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Centered on the Center, Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Surf City Days, Juried Art Festival, Huntington Beach, CA
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival , Yountville, CA - Work selected for Event PROMTIONAL piece
Exhibitions - 2017
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Inspired 2017, Juried Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Huntington Beach Art Center, Centered on the Center, Group Exhibition, Huntington Beach, CA
- Art, Sip and Stroll, Group Juried Art Festival , Yountville, CA
Venues
- BluHazl Lifestyle Boutique and Gallery, Joshua Tree - 2021 /2022
- Devynne Flowers, 2021 - ongoing
Joshua TREE Voice and now in new book!
Thank you to the Joshua Tree Voice and especially Katie Nartonis for the wonderful profile . This is now part of a newly published book California Desert Artists! Thank you Katie!
Thank you LBMA
Thank you to the Long Beach Museum of Art for the honor of participating ( and selling) this encaustic painting in Art Auction XX . Funds help with 5th grade arts education in Long Beach. So privileged to be part of this event. To donate to LBMA.
New Series "Crevices"
bANNER DOWN UNTIL nEXT sUMMER! wHAT A FUN RUN IN Laguna's
Thrilled to have been selected as one of the banner designers for this year's Laguna Beach Banner Competition!! The banner is 16' x 4' ! "John the Seagull" is excited to becom part of this longstanding Laguna Beach hand-painted banner tradition! See some of the process! Mini giclees are also available - contact me
If there is one thing we can agree upon it is Flowers!!!
I had the privilege to work with the Long Beach Creative Group at the Rod Briggs Gallery to jury alongside esteemed artists, Tom Lamb and John Flores. If there is one thing we can all agree on it is flowers! What a wonderful show - we received one of the largest number of submissions the gallery has seen!
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