Biography

Sofia Arez is a Portuguese artist and researcher, motivated by a deep interest in nature and perception. Since she can remember she pays the utmost attention to everything around her, in particular the natural environment, noticing subtle or even apparently insignificant aspects and putting aside everything else, even if intellectually and visually more impactful. It is necessary to relearn to look to see the richness of their shape and colour and to perceive the extraordinary beauty of life they contain. Particularities that are only discovered when we plunge into it. Art is for Sofia a crucial way to think, do and live. Her works of sculpture, drawing, painting, photography, video, and installation were exhibited in Europe and Asia. Not limited to the museum and gallery walls, her practice involves society through collaborative activities and interventions in public space. Sofia Arez was born in Lisbon in 1972 and holds a Masters in Painting from the University of Lisbon. She lives and works in Lisbon.

Solo Exhibition

2024 Symbiosis, Abreu Advogados, Lisboa
2024 Desvio, Centro de Ciência Viva da Floresta de Proença-a-Nova
2023 Symbiosis, Museu Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior, Castelo Branco
2022 Symbiosis, Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade de Lisboa
2021 Desvio, Centro de Ciência Viva de Coimbra
2020 Desvio, Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade de Lisboa
Desvio, Palácio Nacional da Pena
Desvio, Estufa Fria de Lisboa
Desvio, Centro de Ciência Viva da Floresta de Proença-a-Nova
2016 Transient, Creative Macau, Macau
2014 Abandonment, Fundação Oriente, Macau
2013 Abandono, Monastery of Saint Mary, Alcobaça
2011 In-Finito, Sala do Veado, Lisbon
2008 Sofia Arez, Galeria Fábulas, Lisbon
2003 Lugar do Observador, Centro Nacional de Cultura, Lisbon
1998 Lugar do Ser, Palácio da Independência, Lisbon
1996 Ritos de Passagem, Casa do Corpo Santo, Setúbal

Selected Collective Exhibitions

2022/23 The Art of Mushrooms, Fundação de Serralves, Porto
2018 ArtFem, Macao Museum of Art
2017 Resgate/Sauvetage, Radio Palace, Lisbon
2015 Saudade, MGM China, Macau
2014 O Mar e Motivos Marítimos, Museu da Marinha, Lisbon
2013 Make a Wish, Creative Macau, Macau
2012 AFA Autumn Salon, Fundação Oriente, Macau
2011 O Chiado, a Baixa e a Esfera Pública, Museu Arqueológico do Carmo,Lisbon
espaço_arte@ulis 2011, Reitoria da Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbon
2005 Arte e Espiritualidade, Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon
Cristo Palavra e Imagem, Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes, Lisbon
2003 Home Is Where the Heart Is, Jersey Museum, Saint Helier
Prémio CELPA/Vieira da Silva, Arpad Szènes-Vieira da Silva Museum, Lisbon
2º Grande Prémio BANIF de Pintura, Centro Nacional de Cultura, Lisbon
2002 Visões do Corpo, Museus Municipais de Setúbal, Setúbal

Fashion

2023 T-shirts collection in China for Peacebird in partnership with Visionaire
https://visionaireworld.com/blogs/imported/stark-visionaire-releases-another-collection-as-part-of-their-art-collaboration-with-peacebird-women

Awards

2003 Final selection, Prémio CELPA/Vieira da Silva, Fundação Arpad Szènes Vieira da Silva
Honourable mention, 2º Grande Prémio BANIF de Pintura, Centro Nacional de Cultura

Collections

Fundação Oriente, Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, Jersey Museum, Casa das Artes de Vila Nova de Famalicão, Centro Nacional de Cultura, Museus Municipais de Setúbal. Private collections in China, England, France, Jersey, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

Selected Publications

2022 “The Art of Mushrooms”, Gavin F., Serralves
2020 “Desvio”, Lisboa: Arez S.
2014 “Abandonment”. Macau: Cleto P., Teixeira D., Expoente.
“Da Ascese na Arte – II: A Estética de S. Bernardo e a Poética de Newman”, Brotéria 178: 9-18.
2013 “Da Ascese na Arte – I: A Estética de S. Bernardo e a Poética de Newman”,Brotéria 177: 425-445.
“A Floresta”, Andresen, S. de M. B. (text) and Arez, S. (illustration),. Porto:
Porto Editora.
Arez, S. & França, C. (scientific illustration). macaubiodiversity.org.
Macau: University of Saint Joseph.
2011 “Reflexo-Eterno”, in Quaresma, J. (2011). O Chiado, a Baixa e a Esfera Pública. Lisboa: FBAUL.

Contacts
arez.sofia@gmail.com
www.sofiaarez.com