Sofia Arez was born in Lisbon in 1972. In a singular path marked by a significant artistic curriculum that includes works in painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and video, showing figurations that explore deep inner emotions and, more recently, diffuse landscapes. Apparently diverse, one quickly recognizes however the profound coherence of her work that crosses a sense of asceticism with the detachment of abstraction motivated by the sublime. Lives and works in Lisbon and Macau.
Education
2010-2012 Master in Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon. Dissertation: “On Ascesis in Art: The Aesthetics of St Bernard and the Poetics of Newman”
1990-1993 Visual Arts Program, AR.CO – Centre for Art and Visual Communication, Lisbon
Additional Education
2014 Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Mounting Techniques, Creative Macau
2006 Illustration, AR.CO, Lisbon
1994 Glass, AR.CO. Lisbon
Engraving, Diferença Gallery, Lisbon
1993 Advanced Fine Arts Studies, SACI – Studio Art Centers International, Florence
Art Theory, Quadrum Gallery, Lisbon
Solo Exhibitions
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
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
You Are Here You Are There, London Art Biennale, London
1998 Arte Contemporânea I, Museu Michel Giacometti, Setúbal
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
2014 Abandonment. Macau: 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.
Andresen, S. de M. B. (text) and Arez, S. (illustration), A Floresta. 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.
Professional Experience
2014-… Painting teacher at the Macau Anglican College
2013-2014 Scientific illustration for the University of Saint Joseph, Macau
Illustration for Porto Editora, Porto
2010 Social inclusion by the arts youth program, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, with Paula Pimentel
2008 Costume design for Cinira Macedo’s dance solo “Um Segundo é Um Segundo é Um Segundo” presented at Institut Franco Portugais
Social Causes
Painting donation, Lupus Portuguese Association
Painting donation, Fundação Lusalite Vida
Contacts
arez.sofia@gmail.com
www.sofiaarez.com