Photo by Francois Gaudet
Sonja Hébert is based in Vancouver, Canada. She works mostly in drawing and occasionally produces 3- dimensional work. Her artwork generally speaks to the large themes of life cycles through death, transmutation and displacement. She mostly works serially in her drawings using charcoal, graphite, oil sticks and decoupage. Her 3-dimensional works are project based and mostly made from natural materials and organic in form.
Regarding her process she says: “I find inspiration in many things but mostly through natural science, debris, and mythology, the gesture of dancers, graphs, politics and dreams. I draw to get back to basics, to the initial mark making process with carbon, the fundamental molecule of all life. I also enjoy manipulating materials and discovering what each material has to say about this place we share”.
Since earning her BA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design she has participated in national and international residencies. She has exhibited in British Columbia and other parts of Canada in galleries and within cultural events. Her large scale drawings have been featured in Via TVA, a national television series profiling Canadian artists. Sonja is proudly affiliated with francophone provincial and federal arts organizations.
Regarding her process she says: “I find inspiration in many things but mostly through natural science, debris, and mythology, the gesture of dancers, graphs, politics and dreams. I draw to get back to basics, to the initial mark making process with carbon, the fundamental molecule of all life. I also enjoy manipulating materials and discovering what each material has to say about this place we share”.
Since earning her BA from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design she has participated in national and international residencies. She has exhibited in British Columbia and other parts of Canada in galleries and within cultural events. Her large scale drawings have been featured in Via TVA, a national television series profiling Canadian artists. Sonja is proudly affiliated with francophone provincial and federal arts organizations.
Exhibitions
Art Residencies
Awards & Grants
Art Talks
Interviews
Bibliography
- Britannia Art Gallery, Vancouver, Sustenance: More than a mouthful, More than about food, 2014
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, Higher Aspirations, 2011
- Atsui Gallery, Vancouver, The Annual 10x10 Show, 2010
- Atsui Gallery Vancouver, The Evolution of Inspiration, 2009
- Dandelion Emporium, Good Design Makes Good Neighbours, 2009
- Symposium d’art actuel de Caraquet NB, Constellation/Sillage, 2009
- Roberts Street Social Centre Halifax, The Cabinet Project, 2009
- Galerie du centre culturel franco-manitobain Manitoba, Chimères, 2008
- Les Gallery Vancouver, Aggregate Set, curator Igor Santizo, 2007
- Attaché Gallery Vancouver, Strands, curator Lee Henderson, 2007
- Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam, Sense of Movement, 2006
- Emily Carr University Concourse Gallery, Vancouver, Alumni Show, Evolution, 2005
- Third Avenue Gallery, Vancouver, Flora/fauna, 2003
Art Residencies
- Sur la piste, Caravane des arts, Conseil culturelle et artistique francophone de la Colombie britannique, BC, Canada, 2016
- Glow, ArtsHealth North, North Bay Regional Health Centre, Ontario Canada, 2011
- Within and Beyond, OBRAS International Centre of Art and Science, Evoramonte Portugal, 2010
- Constellation / Sillage, Symposium d'art actuel de Caraquet, New Brunswick Canada, 2009
- Torsos and Wings, Can Serrat International Art Residency, El Bruc-Barcelona, Spain 2008
- The Knot Trail Project, Mentoring Artists for Women's Art (MAWA), Winnipeg, Canada 2007
Awards & Grants
- BC Arts Council Professional Development Travel Assistance Grant 2011
- BC Arts Council Professional Development Travel Assistance Grant 2009
- Can Serrat International Art Centre Art Residency Grant 2008
- Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant 2008
- BC Arts Council Project Assistance Grant 2008
- Jillian Blatchford-Fuller Bursary 2001
- BC Arts Council Scholarship Award 2000
Art Talks
- North Bay Regional Health Centre, North Bay Ontario Canada 2011
- Nipissing University, North Bay Ontario Canada 2011
- Obras International Centre for Art & Science, Evoramonte, Portugal 2010
- Contemporary Art Society, Studio Visit, Vancouver 2009
- Colisée Leopold-Foulem, Symposium d'art actuel, Caraquet, NB 2009
- Centre culturel de Caraquet, Symposium d'art actuel, Caraquet, NB 2009
- Can Serrat International Art Centre, El Bruc-Barcelona, Spain
Interviews
- Correspondances, Monique Polloni, Radio-Canada Vancouver, June16 2010
- Viens voir ici, Les Productions GV via TVA, December 24 2009
- Carte Blanche, Vincent Dureault, Radio Canada Winnipeg, June 10 2008
- Innovations en arts, Cindy Royer, Production Rivards via TVA, November 24 2007
- CBUF-Bonjour, Denis Couture, Radio Canada Vancouver March 10 2006
- Quand on arrive en ville, Danielle Marcotte, Radio Canada Vancouver, March 6 2006
- Microphonie, Danielle Marcotte, Radio Canada Vancouver, September 10 2002
- CBUF-Bonjour, Hélène Deggan, Radio Canada Vancouver January 14 1999
Bibliography
- Symposium d’art actuel: cathédrale éclatée, L’Acadie Nouvelle 27 juillet 2009
- Pitre, Jean-Mari. On porte tous notre cathédrale. L’Acadie Nouvelle. July 23, 2009
- Todd, Douglas. Eclectic Shrines Honour the Dead. The Vancouver Sun. October27, 2008
- Bitu Tshikudi, Patricia. Les dessins de Sonja Hébert. La Liberté vol. 95 # 11, 2008
- Allegories of the Genome: Group Exhibition Catalogue, 2007
- L'Envol d'un oiseau rare: L'Express du Pacifique, 31 Aout, 2002
- Les Obelisques de Sonja Hebert: L'Express du Pacifique, 23 Janvier, 1999
- Atelier de Creativite: Pleins Feux, Automne, 1988