Red Spot Gallery - Rotorua Art Gallery supporting local artists
Sofia Minson
Long Ash Tower: Oil on canvas, 1400mm x 1400mm. $13000
Effulgent Self: Oil on canvas, 1270mm x 1010mm. $13000
Biography:
From her studio in Auckland, New Zealand, Sofia Minson paints bold, soulful, finely detailed portraits, landscapes and surreal oil works. She is inspired by the land, myths and people of Aotearoa (NZ) as well as the unity she sees amongst richly diverse cultures from around the world.
Born in Auckland in 1984, Sofia spent much of her childhood in Samoa, Sri Lanka and China. On returning to New Zealand as a teenager, painting enabled her to connect with her homeland, her Ngati Porou heritage and all that she had experienced overseas.
For six years Sofia’s works have been exhibited and collected in the USA, Europe, Turkey and extensively throughout New Zealand. She has won three national art awards, been a two time finalist in the Adam Portraiture Awards and graduated with an Art and Design degree. Working closely with national charities, Sofia regularly donates artworks for fundraising events and recently shaved her head for the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.
Sofia’s vision is to be the world’s top contemporary Maori portrait painter and to help build understanding, respect and friendship between cultures.
Education:
Bachelor of Art and Design degree from Auckland University of Technology.
Awards:
2010 – 1st Prize, ART Auckland Awards, Auckland East Arts Council, NZ.
2010 – Finalist, Adam Portraiture Awards, Wellington, NZ.
2008 – Finalist, Adam Portraiture Awards, Wellington, NZ.
2007 – Diploma of Excellence, Artoteque’s online global art annual.
2005 – 1st Prize, Auckland East Arts Council Art Competition, NZ.
2005 – 1st Prize, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatane, NZ.
2004 – Merit Award, Auckland East Arts Council Art Competition, NZ.
Selected Media:
6 February 2010. MAORI TV. 1 1/2 hour documentary “Canvassing the Treaty” featuring 6 artists.
October 2008. “Painting the Soul”. Her Magazine. Issue 96. Pg 106-109.
2008. New Zealand’s Favourite Artists 2. Minson featured in the book profiling NZ painters, pg 70-71.
22 April 2008. MAORI TV. 1/2 hour documentary about Sofia on the arts series “Kete Aronui”.
17 April 2008. Radio NZ National. 18 minute Nine to Noon interview with Kathryn Ryan.
3 April 2008. “Legendary Display” Minson solo exhibition review. The Northern Advocate.
March-April 2008. Front cover picture and feature article “My Way”. Idealog magazine. Issue 14. Pg 62-67.
March-April 2008. “Portrait of the artist as a young woman”. Shooting Star section of NZ Life and Leisure magazine. Issue 18. Pg 49-50.
6 Nov 2007. TV ONE. Minson’s work at the exhibition Whence We Came highlighted on the news show “Te Karere”.
27 Oct 2007. TV TWO. Sofia and her art profiled on the show “Mai Time”.
6 Oct 2007. TV ONE. Sofia’s solo exhibition featured on the news show “Te Karere”.
Oct-Nov 2007. “Sofia Going Solo”. Mana Magazine. Issue 78. Pg 82-83.
8 Sep 2007. TV ONE. The tour company Potiki Adventures and Sofia Minson’s art were featured on the show “Business Is Booming”. Episode 7.
December 2006. “Rising Star Sofia Minson”. NEXT Magazine. Pg 26-27.
15 Sep 2006. MAORI TV. 8pm. Sofia featured on the show “Tu Wera”.
July 2006. “Art from the Soul”. Her Business Magazine. Issue 69. Pg 66-67.
June 2006. “Sofia Minson”. Nga Kohinga – New Zealand’s premier Ngati Porou magazine. Issue 10. Pg 14-15.
May-June 2006. “Sofia”. Spasifik Magazine. Issue 14. Pg 86-87.
April-May 2006. “Art and heart”. Mana Magazine. Issue 69. Pg 52-55.
April 2006. “Interpretations”. PINK Magazine. Pg 46-53.
Winter 2005. “Tales Without Words”. BMW Magazine. Pg 98-102.
October 2004. “Traversing the World Through Art”. Tu Mai: New Zealand’s Leading Indigenous Magazine. Issue 58. Pg 4-6.