ABOUT
ABOUT
Sonja Drake is a visual artist based in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. She completed her MFA at Whitecliffe College of Art in 2021 and BFA at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University.
Sonjas creative practice considers ideas around ecology, accretion and accumulation. She is interested in areas where land meets water, waterways and where water flows above and below the earth's surface. Through the exploration of sites linked to her settler heritage, her projects enquire into how we shape the world, in ways visible and invisible.
Foremost a painter, she works in watercolour and acrylic paint, pencils and graphite powder, added to with paints made with soil and sediment samples from the subject sites.
Sonja has had a number of solo exhibitions and won several art awards including the Peoples Choice award at the Estuary Art and Ecology Award in 2016.
See more here CV
Sonja Drake is a visual artist based in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. She completed her MFA at Whitecliffe College of Art in 2021 and BFA at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University.
Sonjas creative practice considers ideas around ecology, accretion and accumulation. She is interested in areas where land meets water, waterways and where water flows above and below the earth's surface. Through the exploration of sites linked to her settler heritage, her projects enquire into how we shape the world, in ways visible and invisible.
Foremost a painter, she works in watercolour and acrylic paint, pencils and graphite powder, added to with paints made with soil and sediment samples from the subject sites.
Sonja has had a number of solo exhibitions and won several art awards including the Peoples Choice award at the Estuary Art and Ecology Award in 2016.
See more here CV
MFA BLOG: sonjadrake.wordpress.com/
Selected Exhibitions
SOLO
Ecotones (Encore), Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library 2022
Ecotones Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library, 2021
Infinity Mesh Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket 2019
Ferric Coruscation Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket 2018
Taking A Bearing NorthArt Gallery 2016
Wild Places Railway Street Gallery 2015
Surface Tension Railway Street Gallery 2014
SELECTED GROUP
As Above, So Below Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket, 2022
Wayfinding, DEMO, 3 Water St, Grafton, 2022
This Situation. DEMO 3.0. 215 Karangahape Road, Auckland 2020
Arts Gold National Biennial Art Awards finalist 2017
ILT National Art Awards finalist 2017
Circle Railway Street Gallery 2017
From The Rivers to the Shore Arts in Oxford, Depot Artspace and No. 1 Parnell 2017
White Nights NorthArt 2017
Cocoon Kereru Gallery, Mapua 2017
Estuary Art and Ecology Award 2016 (winner, peoples choice award) 2016
Pocket Edition NorthArt 2019, 2017, 2015
Moana-Our Ocean MAC (Overall Winner)
Nature Notes North Art 2014
Ecotones (Encore), Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library 2022
Ecotones Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library, 2021
Infinity Mesh Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket 2019
Ferric Coruscation Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket 2018
Taking A Bearing NorthArt Gallery 2016
Wild Places Railway Street Gallery 2015
Surface Tension Railway Street Gallery 2014
SELECTED GROUP
As Above, So Below Railway Street Gallery, Newmarket, 2022
Wayfinding, DEMO, 3 Water St, Grafton, 2022
This Situation. DEMO 3.0. 215 Karangahape Road, Auckland 2020
Arts Gold National Biennial Art Awards finalist 2017
ILT National Art Awards finalist 2017
Circle Railway Street Gallery 2017
From The Rivers to the Shore Arts in Oxford, Depot Artspace and No. 1 Parnell 2017
White Nights NorthArt 2017
Cocoon Kereru Gallery, Mapua 2017
Estuary Art and Ecology Award 2016 (winner, peoples choice award) 2016
Pocket Edition NorthArt 2019, 2017, 2015
Moana-Our Ocean MAC (Overall Winner)
Nature Notes North Art 2014