"I aim to provide people with the opportunity to encounter my work beyond the traditional white walls of a gallery, instead showcasing it against backgrounds that enhance its character and interior design. This setting imbues my images with romance and elegance, offering a unique perspective and inviting viewers to appreciate art in a more intimate and evocative environment". - Violeta Sofia
Violeta Sofia is an award-winning photographer and visual artist, renowned for her exploration of race and diasporic identity. Born to Cameroonian and Equatorial Guinean parents, Violeta's artistic vision is deeply anchored in her African heritage, which she seamlessly intertwines with influences from old master paintings. This unique blend of cultural and artistic elements enables her to create narratives that resonate on both personal and universal levels.
Violeta's artistic journey began in her childhood when she was introduced to photography and painting-two practices that have since worked in tandem to shape her distinctive body of work. This early exposure laid the foundation for a career that would flourish in both commercial photography and fine art. Her work has attracted attention from prestigious institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, Christie's, and the National Portrait Gallery, and has been featured in prominent publications like Vogue and on the cover of Elle Italia.
One of her most personal and significant projects is the "Hand Masters" series. Initially conceived as a way to document the changes in her skin due to vitiligo, the series has evolved into a profound exploration of self-identity and transformation. Influenced deeply by the old masters, Violeta's hands, intricately depicted in these images, have become a powerful symbol and a canvas for her storytelling. The series delves into themes of heritage, resilience, and the passage of time, linking Violeta's personal journey with broader narratives of the human experience.
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Contemporary Istanbul 2024
Istanbul, Turkey 22 - 27 Oct 2024Gillian Jason Gallery will be participating in Contemporary Istanbul, one of the leading international art fairs. The gallery will present a selection of works by...Read more -
LAPADA 2024
London, United Kingdom 22 - 27 Oct 2024We are excited to announce our curated booth at LAPADA, located at Stand C1. We will be showcasing a selection of works from four exceptional...Read more
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As the winner of the first 70:15:40 Project, artist Violeta Sofia presents her highly anticipatedinstallation, ‘Belonging and Rebirth’, Violeta Sofia invites viewers into a world of culturalreverence and visual storytelling. (Photographer: Anja, @by_anjap )
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Violeta’s work represents her own journey of reclaiming the beauty and “magic” within Central African traditions. Through her lens, Violeta highlights the dignified strength of cultural practices from Cameroon and Bioko island, particularly those rooted in the wisdom of her family’s tribes.
Photographer: Anja, @by_anjap
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The exhibition addresses the complex and often painful history of how African culture has been exploited and misrepresented. Historically, African cultural and spiritual practices have been dismissed or demonised by outsiders who lacked understanding and respect for indigenous beliefs, art, and ways of life.
Photographer: Anja, @by_anjap
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"The island of Fernando Po (Bioko) is inhabited by a savage and cruel sort of people.” Once used to justify European incursions into the island, is a phrase from the past that Violeta’s work challenges. Her work aims to counter the frequent misunderstanding and appropriation of African practices, presenting them instead in their rightful, honourable light.
Photographer: Anja, @by_anjap
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Photographer: Anja, @by_anjap
