About Sonja
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Artist Bio
Sonja Krastman is a native California artist who splits her time between the California coast and the high desert. You will see these influences in her work capturing the serenity of nature alongside the chaos of city life. Sonja works in encaustic, acrylic and mixed media.
"While I have created art my whole life, I have only claimed the title of artist the last decade a I have dedicated more time to my passion. In my professional role as a communications professional, I connect ideas with words and images to communicate. Art for me is very similar but as in storytelling, in art I capture feelings and connect those with the ideas - sometimes abstractly, and sometimes more representationally."
Sonja holds a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a masters from Gonzaga University and studied art at Cal State University Long Beach, Parsons School of Design in NYC, as well as in workshops with leading artists.
"I thrive on creating visually a mystery that cannot be expressed in words.".
Artist Statement
The world is so nuanced. Nothing is really simple. We are all complex beings with layers and layers of life. It is this idea that drives every piece I make. My work is about allowing the process of mark making 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.
For me, sometimes this results in representational work and sometimes it results in highly abstracted or non-objective compositions. I invite interpretation and others to experience pieces for themselves since we all experience moments differently.
My work is inspired by color, light, composition, mystery and the power of mark making. Layers, like life events and decisions, build the texture of who we are and how our life unfolds.
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
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