Sofia Barton is a multidisciplinary artist from Newcastle upon Tyne. Her work kindles a vibrant tapestry of creativity through her unique fusion of Indian matchbox art, symbolic graphics, and Punjabi-inspired palettes. With a passion for storytelling through visuals, Sofia's work explores hidden histories, weaving together information from archives and familiar objects. Each artwork invites us to explore a rich heritage whilst also embracing the contemporary evolution of its visual language.
Growing up immersed in the vibrant hues of South Asian traditions, Sofia found early inspiration in the rich tapestry of her Punjabi roots. The vivid colours, intricate patterns, and the emotive stories woven into the fabric of her cultural heritage became a foundation for her artistic expression. Sofia was inspired by her late grandfather’s Indian matchbox collection, fusing these with imagery from nature to create limited edition art prints.
Clients have included Historic England, Northern Pride, AOI, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Wild in Art, Durham University, Tyneside Cinema and NEXUS.
Beyond the canvas, Sofia is an advocate for ethnic minorities and supporter for the LGBTQ+ community, leading her to be awarded the BBC Bravery Award in 2023. She is a disabled artist residing in the North East of England. Her workshops and collaborations aim to foster a sense of unity among diverse communities, emphasizing the power of art as a bridge between different cultures.
Exhibitions:
Level Arts Centre, Derby, Jayaben Desai Matchbox (July 2023)
Custom House, South Shields, Open Call. Selection of work. (2023)
Love of the North, Spanish City ‘Folklore‘ (November 2022)
Metro Art. ‘Blazing Trails‘ – Newcastle Contemporary Art Gallery (October 2022)
Tyneside Cinema – 10 Matchbox Artworks for Cinema Archive Art (September 2022.)
‘Narivad‘ (Suffragette in Sanskrit) Series of Matchbox Artworks for GemArts. Gateshead. (August 2022.)
Love of the North, Spanish City ‘Canny Wild and Free‘ (August 2022)
Art Matters Now– Home Away from Home Digital Exhibition. Migration Illustration. (2021)
Creative Factory/Navigator North ‘Boro through Time‘ Matchboxes on Aluminium on A66 Middlesbrough. (September -Nov 2021)
‘Kali’ painting. Pink Collar Gallery, Durham University (2021)
‘Dr Death‘. Acrylic on canvas 30×30. BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Open Submission (2021)
Wild in Art: Lincoln Imp trail ‘Yellow Belly‘ and ‘Celestial‘ Imps. Exhibited at Cornhill and Lincoln Cathedral. (2021)
Selected Matchboxes. Gallery 45, Felton (2020)
Self Portrait and Split. Acrylics on canvas. 90 x 60. Spilt Milk Gallery. Members Show, Edinburgh (2018, 2019)
Northern Dreams For the Love of the North. Selected paintings and prints. Newcastle. (2019)
Dollhouse Berwick, miniature painting. Dockside Gallery (2019 & 2022)
Wild in Art: Great North Elmer Parade (2019) Included ‘Brightside‘ exhibited at Eldon Garden Shopping Centre Newcastle
Entwined Painting. A1 Acrylic on Canvas. Children’s Sick Hospital Fund Auction. Newcastle. (2019)
‘Gaia‘ print, 100 Years of OUI, Kimberly Clark Leeds (2018)
Selected Works Exhibition, Prohibition Bar, Newcastle upon Tyne (2018)
Saatchi Gallery, Saatchi Screen, London Wolfmother Painting (2018)
Celeste Art Prize. Photography Series. ‘Lost Father‘ (2015) Milan
Commissions:
GemArts Brochure Design. Masala Festival. 2023.
NE1. Pride Nutcracker Shop Window Illustration 2022
Metro Art Design ‘Blazing Trails‘ 2022. For display on new fleet of metro trains 2023. Nexus.
‘What’s for Tea?’ Illustration. Learning floor at Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art (July 2022)
Archive Commission 10 Matchboxes. Tyneside Cinema (2022)
Newcastle Youth Climate Change Summit. Live Illustration. Newcastle Council. The Common Room of the Great North. (June 2022)
Darlington Hippodrome Poster. Opening the Closet Doors. Working with artist Sarah Li. 2022.
‘Let’s Talk About Sex‘ Artwork series for the charity Changing Relations, Durham (May 2022)
Stockton Art Deco Mural. Gate at Wellington Square. Arc Stockton. (April 2022)
‘Narivad‘ (Feminism in Sanskrit) Series of 10 Matchbox Artworks and handmade boxes with portraitures of ethnic minority suffragettes for GemArts (2022)
Logo Design, Miner’s Banner and Pride Christmas Window Illustration in Newcastle City Centre. Northern Pride (2021-22)
enSHRINE project Worked with leading artist and researcher Lady Kitt in collaboration with composer & producer Sarah Li and socially engaged artist & architect Dan Russell. To offer organisations space and tools to explore and share effective techniques for embedding co-creation in their organisational and creative work. (2022)
Art in Action Trail – Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art. Illustrated Map. From Baltic Gateshead to Dunston Staithes (2021)
Co-Investigator. Series of illustrations during lockdown. The Newbridge Project (2020)
Art Confined. Socially engaged craft project with Lady Kitt. (May – Nov 2020)
Great North Run Map Illustration – 61 Sides UpSide Down Presents (2019)
Shop Window Illustration – Whitley Bay, For the Love of the North (2019)
Residencies:
Producing Place: with Monkfish Productions exploring the connections with community and framework in Saltwell Park. (2022)
Baycreate: working with Barnardos and Whitley Bay Big Local, creating large scale mandalas, with participatory art practice in an intergenerational coastal community project. (2021)
Durham University’s Bishop Cosin’s Library: working with local schools in Durham reviving the rich history of one of the oldest libraries in the UK. (2020-2021) Included work with Summer in the City Festival and being part of the Art Prize (Heroes 2021)
Nasty Women Residency. With support from Lady Kitt and Michaela Wetherell who curated the experience at Praxis Gallery in Commercial Union House (2018)
Publications, Panel and Interviews:
Artist Exploitation Article. AXIS (January 2024)
Artist Talk with students. Sunderland University (December 2023)
MotherOther Launch Event. Guest speaker. The Newbridge Project. (January 2023)
Social Works? EDI Journal Article. Axis. Manchester Metropolitan University and Social Arts Network. ( March 2023)
Interview Metro Artwork. Look North. Tyne Tees. (September 2022)
Interview ‘Narivad’ South Asian Heritage Month. Look North, Tyne Tees. (August 2022)
Durham University Arts Prize Judge Panel ‘Heroes’ (2021)
BBC Newcastle Radio Show with Tamsin Robson (April 2019)
Awards:
North East Culture Awards: Best Newcomer. Finalist (December 2023)
BBC Newcastle Radio. Finalist for the BBC Bravery Award. (August 2023)
Shortlisted for IPSE Outstanding Freelancer Award (July 2023)
Education:
Edinburgh Napier University. Photography and Film BA (Hons) (2009-2012)
Newcastle College. Foundation Degree with Merit (2008)
Memberships:
Association of Illustrators. Network Artists North East.
Stockists:
You can buy my artwork from the Dockside Gallery and BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art.