About

Sonia Martignon’s art practice is based in and inspired by the Northern Territory. Her imagery is driven by an intense curiosity with nature, landscape and mythology and her distinctive colour palette echoes the hues found in this unique landscape. She works on hand cut wood and records ideas using the mediums of acrylic, graphite and pyrography.

“Living in the verdant Top End and armed with the belief that all living things are connected by the habitats we share, my work aims to capture this precious wildness, documenting its wealth of colour, shape, spirit, and mood. It pays homage to the fertile environments that are under constant threat. My aesthetics are tethered to locations which are deeply and intimately familiar but are filtered thru humankind’s inherent sense of being ‘other’, separate from the natural world. While most organisms coexist in harmony, living a life framed by sky and earth, humans struggle to acknowledge we are a part of this fully interconnected ecosystem. The intricately cut edges of my work cast shadows, offering a portal into the landscape, to focus on a disappearing ecology we might choose to protect instead of destroying.”

ARTIST BIO

Sonia Martignon completed a Bachelor of Fine Art, Charles Darwin University (1992). Completing further studies in architecture and education she is also a qualified teacher. Beginning a fulltime arts practice in 2019, Sonia has participated in multiple curated group shows across Australia. She was selected to exhibit in EXPLORATION 20, showcasing ten emerging Australian artists at Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne (2020). Sonia’s solo exhibitions include HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne (2018); A FRAGILE EXISTENCE, Salon Project Space Gallery, Darwin (2019); UNTITLED, The Other Art Fair, Sydney (2019). Her work has been selected as a finalist and exhibited in several national art prizes including the Korea-Australian Art Foundation Art Prize, Sydney (2018, 2021), Lethbridge Landscape Prize, Brisbane (2021), 20000 Small-Scale Art Awards, Brisbane (2021), she was awarded the WINNER of the Korea-Australian Art Foundation Art Prize, Sydney (2022), and is a finalist in the Kennedy Prize (2023).. Sonia completed a residency at Tactile Arts Studios in 2022, and in 2023 she will be having her inaugural solo exhibition at Weswal Gallery, Tamworth.

The gallery of artworks in this website represents Sonia’s practice since late 2016, initially part time, graduating to full time in 2019. Not all the artwork is available as many pieces have already been acquired. If you are interested in purchasing any of the pieces please use the contact page, your queries will be answered as soon as possible. Commissions are also welcome at this time.