Violeta Sofia Spanish, b. 1979

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.