My CV

Biography Sonia is an emerging visual artist whose journey spans two continents. Born in Tehran, Iran, she developed a deep appreciation for Persian art and culture from an early age. She later moved to Toronto, Canada, to further her art education, attending York University in 2023, where she was recognized with the BIPOC Artist Award for her outstanding creative work. Now pursuing her studies at OCAD University, Sonia continues to evolve her practice, blending influences from her Middle Eastern roots with contemporary Western techniques in painting. Sonia’s artistic style reflects this rich fusion of cultures and approaches. Trained in academic realism, she renders figures and forms with careful detail, yet she isn’t afraid to disrupt perfection with expressive flourishes. Many of her oil and acrylic paintings feature areas of polished realism contrasted with loosely applied paint, drips, or rough sketch-like marks. This interplay between the refined and the raw has become a signature of her work – a visual metaphor for the meeting of tradition and experimentation. She also occasionally incorporates Persian visual elements, such as rug patterns or miniature styles, adding an extra layer of narrative and personal heritage to her pieces. Over the past few years, Sonia has exhibited her work in several shows around Toronto. Notably, she has shown paintings at Gallery 1313, a hub for contemporary art in the city, and at York University’s Samuel J. Jacks Gallery during an emerging artists exhibition. In addition to her studio practice, Sonia is passionate about art education. She has taught painting classes at the Charsoo Artistic Center in Tehran, and she continues to share her love of art through local workshops in Toronto. These teaching experiences across different cultures and communities have reinforced her belief in art’s universal power to connect and inspire.