A Japanese native, Sonomi Kobayashi is a New York-based artist, art educator, and independent curator. She received a Four-Year Certificate from The Art Students League in Painting, where she also studied printmaking and sculpture, and was awarded a Merit Scholarship and the Will Barnet Grant in Printmaking. She has served as an artist-in-residence at MASS MoCA, Vermont Studio Center, The Art Students League’s Vytlacil Campus, and Cat’Art Contemporary Art Centre in France. Her work has been exhibited frequently in the US, Japan, and Europe, including the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (NYC), Lesley Heller Workspace (NYC), Flinn Gallery (CT), Galerie ARTAe, (Germany), The National Art Center (Tokyo), and Gallery Heptagon (Kyoto). Her work was recently selected for The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition at Brooklyn Museum for their 200th anniversary celebration, opening in October 2024.
She currently teaches Workshops, Mixed Media Art Class, and Children’s Art Class at The Art Students League, as well as with Seeds of the League; The League’s community program. Since 2013, she has been teaching art to children enrolled in NYC Parks Learning Labs and adults in Arts, Culture and Fun workshops in community parks throughout Manhattan. In 2019, the Mayoral Service Recognition Program awarded her a Certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding efforts.
She currently teaches Workshops, Mixed Media Art Class, and Children’s Art Class at The Art Students League, as well as with Seeds of the League; The League’s community program. Since 2013, she has been teaching art to children enrolled in NYC Parks Learning Labs and adults in Arts, Culture and Fun workshops in community parks throughout Manhattan. In 2019, the Mayoral Service Recognition Program awarded her a Certificate of Appreciation for her outstanding efforts.
CV
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025 Solo Exhibition, "Rising Dragon Descending Dragon", Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
The 29th Japanese Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists, JAA Gallery, New York, NY
2024 The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, 200th anniversary celebration, Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
亀山トリエンナーレ Kameyama Triennale, Mie, Japan
The 28th Japanese Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists, JAA Gallery, New York, NY
"AMONG FRIENDS", Metaphor Projects, Brooklyn, NY
2023 Three-Person Exhibition, border -それぞれの境界-, Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan
2022 Kameyama Triennale, Mie, Japan
”NY作家6人展”, Gallery Hill Gate, Kyoto, Japan
"AMONG FRIENDS", Equity Gallery, New York, NY
2021 "NY Art Book Fair”, NADA Miami, FL
Solo Exhibition, "Surrender", Gallery Heptagon, Kyoto, Japan
Two-Person Exhibition, "Alchemical Reactives", The Gallery LTD, Brooklyn, NY
Awakening”, Art On The Avenue, New York, NY
Online Art Book Fair, Printed Matter Inc.
2020 "Inhabiting the Moment”, Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan
"8x8 Art on Paper" FLATFILE Gallery, Online exhibition
"Japanese Art Fever”, Leona Gallery, Austin, TX
2019 "Material Witness", Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
“Strange World”, Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY
"AMONG FRIENDS", The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, New York, NY
“Illusion of Spontaneity: Angel's Share”, White Cube Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
2018 "Seeds of Our Grandmothers' Dreams”, 341 FSN Gallery, Los Angels, CA
"NY Art Book Fair”, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY
Three-person exhibition, “Illusion of Spontaneity”, Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Revisited”, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT
"POP GOES THE WEASEL”, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
"NY Art Book Fair”, Printed Matter Inc, New York, NY
"Japanese Young Artists Book Fair”, Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY
"New Artist Unit”, The National Art Center Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2017 Solo Exhibition, “Symbols”, Galerie La, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
"NY Art Book Fair”, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY
"Alien God", Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY
"JART” Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
"NY Art Book Fair”, Printed Matter Inc, New York, NY
"Japanese Young Artists’ Book Fair”, Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY
"MASS MoCA Residents Open Studios”, Makers Mill, North Adams, MA
2016 Solo Exhibition, “Symbols”, Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
"AccessArt”, USAGI NY, Brooklyn, NY
"Abstract Thought", BLAM Brooklyn, NY
Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY
"Open Call", Lorimoto, Brooklyn, NY
Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
"10 year Anniversary Gallery Artists' Exhibition", ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
2015 “Holiday Show”, Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY
“Grants Winner's Exhibition”, Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, New York, NY
“Shangri-la”, The Factory, LIC, NY
BOS2015, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Solo Exhibition, “天空地 (Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial)”, Gallery 494, Tokyo, Japan
“Color, Lacquer, Oil, and Concrete”, Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany
“Wonderland”, Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Over the Edge: Paperworks Unbound”, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
“Juicy”, Gitana Rosa Gallery Chelsea, New York, NY
BOS2014, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Solo Exhibition, “Recent Paintings and prints”, Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany
"MIRAI", 日本領事館 (Japanese Consulate), New York, NY
"THE EDITIONS”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn NY
C.A.R. Art Fair, Essen Germany, Galerie ARTAe
"Three Artists | Three Reflections”, Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY
"Scholarship Winner's Exhibition" Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League, New York, NY,
"Flow" Collaboration with Pauline Kim Harris (violin), Fire House, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2013, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Solo Exhibition, “Selected for the Winery's 2010 Chardonnay label”, BOE Winery, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Vytlacil Artists-in-Residence Open Studios, Sparkill, NY
“The Others”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
GO Brooklyn Open Studios organized by Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2012, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2011 “Holiday Salon Show”, Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, Curated by John Baber
“Blattbildung (Sheet Forming)”, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, Curated by Sabine Elsner
artMRKT Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
BOS2011, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2010 “Ars Graphis”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Blattbildung - Grafik und Zeichnung (Sheet Forming - Diagram and Drawing)” , Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
"OIL SLICK", Curator: Bruno Perillo and Vanessa Liberati, 56 Bogart Space, Brooklyn, NY
AAF, Affordable Art Fair (Gitana Rosa Gallery), New York, NY
TEASE Art Fair (Galerie ARTAe) Curator: Sabine Aichele-Elsner, Cologne, Germany
2009 Miami Verge Art Fair (Gitana Rosa Gallery), Curated by Vanessa Liberati, Miami, FL
Yatsuo Slow Art Show, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
“POP OUT : Copenhagen”, Danish German Art Week, Warehouse 9, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Wintermärchen (Winter fairy tale)", Curator: Sabine Aichele- Elsner, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
“Benefit for Nicole: A Postcard show”, Priska Juschka Fine Art, New York, NY
The Armory Arts Week Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
2008 Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
“Deutscher Frühherbst (German early autumn)”, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
2007 Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
"Plaque Sabbath", Studio Benefit Exhibition, Co-organizer and Exihibiter, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2022 Ma’s House BIPOC Art Studio Residency, Shinnecock, Southampton, NY
2018 Point B Unitat Project, High Valley, NY
2017 MASS MoCA Studio Residency, North Adams, MA
2013 Will Barnet Grant in Printmaking, New York, NY
2012 Ruth Katzman Scholarship and Residency, The Vytlacil Campus of The Art Students League of New York, Sparkill, NY
2012 Joseph Bartnikowski Scholarship, The Art Students League of New York, NY
2010 VSC Grant and Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
2009 Residency and Fellowship, Yatsuo Slow Art A.I.R, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
2007 Residency, Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre, Sainte Colombe, France
2004 Honorable Mention, Salon du Blanc Art Association, Tokyo, Japan
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2024 United Nations Global Impact New York Office, New York, NY
2021 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
2019 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
2024 - Present Mixed Media Class, The Art Students League of New York
2022 - Present Fluid Alcohol Ink Workshop / Meditation and Art Workshop, The Art Students League of New York
2022 - Present The Art Center for Seniors at The Temple Emanu-El, New York, NY
2021 - Present Painting, Color, Design for Children, The Art Students League of New York
2013 - Present Outreach Program, The Art Students League of New York
Children's After School and Summer Camp Art Program, New York City Parks and Recreation Centers:
Asser Levy Center, New York, NY
ARROW Field House, Queens, NY
Hansborough Center, New York, NY
J Hood Wright Center, New York, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
and other locations
Pre-School Art program, New York City Parks and Recreation Centers:
Jackie Robinson Center, New York, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
Other workshops for Adults:
Alcohol ink workshops, Brooklyn NY
Printmaking workshops:
Chelsea Recreation Center, New York, NY
Brownsville Center, Brooklyn, NY
The 34th Street Partnership, Herald Square Outdoor Art, New York, NY
and other locations
Watercolor Workshops:
J Hood Wright Park, New York, NY
Clifton Place Memorial Garden and Park, Brooklyn, NY
Maggie's Magic Garden with GreenThumb, NY, NY
Bushwick Inlet Park, New York City Parks, Brooklyn, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
and other locations
Other Workshops:
Alcohol ink art workshop, MIKA Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Origami Workshop, 50th Anniversary of Public Art in New York City Parks, Central Park, New York, NY
Yatsuo Slow Art Workshop, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan, Workshops by contemporary artists for Kashio Elementary School Students
EDUCATION / TRAINING
2011-2017 Study of Printmaking
The Art Students League of New York
1999-2000 Study of Sculpting
The Art Students League of New York
1999 Four-year studio certificate in Painting
The Art Students League of New York
1989 Licensed in Nutrition
Seitoku Eiyo Collage, Tokyo, Japan
2025 Solo Exhibition, "Rising Dragon Descending Dragon", Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
The 29th Japanese Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists, JAA Gallery, New York, NY
2024 The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, 200th anniversary celebration, Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
亀山トリエンナーレ Kameyama Triennale, Mie, Japan
The 28th Japanese Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists, JAA Gallery, New York, NY
"AMONG FRIENDS", Metaphor Projects, Brooklyn, NY
2023 Three-Person Exhibition, border -それぞれの境界-, Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan
2022 Kameyama Triennale, Mie, Japan
”NY作家6人展”, Gallery Hill Gate, Kyoto, Japan
"AMONG FRIENDS", Equity Gallery, New York, NY
2021 "NY Art Book Fair”, NADA Miami, FL
Solo Exhibition, "Surrender", Gallery Heptagon, Kyoto, Japan
Two-Person Exhibition, "Alchemical Reactives", The Gallery LTD, Brooklyn, NY
Awakening”, Art On The Avenue, New York, NY
Online Art Book Fair, Printed Matter Inc.
2020 "Inhabiting the Moment”, Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan
"8x8 Art on Paper" FLATFILE Gallery, Online exhibition
"Japanese Art Fever”, Leona Gallery, Austin, TX
2019 "Material Witness", Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
“Strange World”, Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY
"AMONG FRIENDS", The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, New York, NY
“Illusion of Spontaneity: Angel's Share”, White Cube Gallery, Nagoya, Japan
2018 "Seeds of Our Grandmothers' Dreams”, 341 FSN Gallery, Los Angels, CA
"NY Art Book Fair”, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY
Three-person exhibition, “Illusion of Spontaneity”, Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Revisited”, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT
"POP GOES THE WEASEL”, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
"NY Art Book Fair”, Printed Matter Inc, New York, NY
"Japanese Young Artists Book Fair”, Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY
"New Artist Unit”, The National Art Center Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2017 Solo Exhibition, “Symbols”, Galerie La, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
"NY Art Book Fair”, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY
"Alien God", Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY
"JART” Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
"NY Art Book Fair”, Printed Matter Inc, New York, NY
"Japanese Young Artists’ Book Fair”, Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY
"MASS MoCA Residents Open Studios”, Makers Mill, North Adams, MA
2016 Solo Exhibition, “Symbols”, Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
"AccessArt”, USAGI NY, Brooklyn, NY
"Abstract Thought", BLAM Brooklyn, NY
Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY
"Open Call", Lorimoto, Brooklyn, NY
Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
"10 year Anniversary Gallery Artists' Exhibition", ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
2015 “Holiday Show”, Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY
“Grants Winner's Exhibition”, Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, New York, NY
“Shangri-la”, The Factory, LIC, NY
BOS2015, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Solo Exhibition, “天空地 (Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial)”, Gallery 494, Tokyo, Japan
“Color, Lacquer, Oil, and Concrete”, Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany
“Wonderland”, Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Over the Edge: Paperworks Unbound”, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
“Juicy”, Gitana Rosa Gallery Chelsea, New York, NY
BOS2014, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Solo Exhibition, “Recent Paintings and prints”, Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany
"MIRAI", 日本領事館 (Japanese Consulate), New York, NY
"THE EDITIONS”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn NY
C.A.R. Art Fair, Essen Germany, Galerie ARTAe
"Three Artists | Three Reflections”, Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY
"Scholarship Winner's Exhibition" Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League, New York, NY,
"Flow" Collaboration with Pauline Kim Harris (violin), Fire House, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2013, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Solo Exhibition, “Selected for the Winery's 2010 Chardonnay label”, BOE Winery, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Vytlacil Artists-in-Residence Open Studios, Sparkill, NY
“The Others”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
GO Brooklyn Open Studios organized by Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2012, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2011 “Holiday Salon Show”, Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, Curated by John Baber
“Blattbildung (Sheet Forming)”, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, Curated by Sabine Elsner
artMRKT Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
BOS2011, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2010 “Ars Graphis”, Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Blattbildung - Grafik und Zeichnung (Sheet Forming - Diagram and Drawing)” , Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany
"OIL SLICK", Curator: Bruno Perillo and Vanessa Liberati, 56 Bogart Space, Brooklyn, NY
AAF, Affordable Art Fair (Gitana Rosa Gallery), New York, NY
TEASE Art Fair (Galerie ARTAe) Curator: Sabine Aichele-Elsner, Cologne, Germany
2009 Miami Verge Art Fair (Gitana Rosa Gallery), Curated by Vanessa Liberati, Miami, FL
Yatsuo Slow Art Show, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
“POP OUT : Copenhagen”, Danish German Art Week, Warehouse 9, Copenhagen, Denmark
"Wintermärchen (Winter fairy tale)", Curator: Sabine Aichele- Elsner, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
“Benefit for Nicole: A Postcard show”, Priska Juschka Fine Art, New York, NY
The Armory Arts Week Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
2008 Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
“Deutscher Frühherbst (German early autumn)”, ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany
2007 Open Studios, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
"Plaque Sabbath", Studio Benefit Exhibition, Co-organizer and Exihibiter, Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2022 Ma’s House BIPOC Art Studio Residency, Shinnecock, Southampton, NY
2018 Point B Unitat Project, High Valley, NY
2017 MASS MoCA Studio Residency, North Adams, MA
2013 Will Barnet Grant in Printmaking, New York, NY
2012 Ruth Katzman Scholarship and Residency, The Vytlacil Campus of The Art Students League of New York, Sparkill, NY
2012 Joseph Bartnikowski Scholarship, The Art Students League of New York, NY
2010 VSC Grant and Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
2009 Residency and Fellowship, Yatsuo Slow Art A.I.R, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
2007 Residency, Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre, Sainte Colombe, France
2004 Honorable Mention, Salon du Blanc Art Association, Tokyo, Japan
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2024 United Nations Global Impact New York Office, New York, NY
2021 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
2019 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
TEACHING EXPERIENCES
2024 - Present Mixed Media Class, The Art Students League of New York
2022 - Present Fluid Alcohol Ink Workshop / Meditation and Art Workshop, The Art Students League of New York
2022 - Present The Art Center for Seniors at The Temple Emanu-El, New York, NY
2021 - Present Painting, Color, Design for Children, The Art Students League of New York
2013 - Present Outreach Program, The Art Students League of New York
Children's After School and Summer Camp Art Program, New York City Parks and Recreation Centers:
Asser Levy Center, New York, NY
ARROW Field House, Queens, NY
Hansborough Center, New York, NY
J Hood Wright Center, New York, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
and other locations
Pre-School Art program, New York City Parks and Recreation Centers:
Jackie Robinson Center, New York, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
Other workshops for Adults:
Alcohol ink workshops, Brooklyn NY
Printmaking workshops:
Chelsea Recreation Center, New York, NY
Brownsville Center, Brooklyn, NY
The 34th Street Partnership, Herald Square Outdoor Art, New York, NY
and other locations
Watercolor Workshops:
J Hood Wright Park, New York, NY
Clifton Place Memorial Garden and Park, Brooklyn, NY
Maggie's Magic Garden with GreenThumb, NY, NY
Bushwick Inlet Park, New York City Parks, Brooklyn, NY
Recreation Center 54, New York, NY
and other locations
Other Workshops:
Alcohol ink art workshop, MIKA Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
Origami Workshop, 50th Anniversary of Public Art in New York City Parks, Central Park, New York, NY
Yatsuo Slow Art Workshop, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan, Workshops by contemporary artists for Kashio Elementary School Students
EDUCATION / TRAINING
2011-2017 Study of Printmaking
The Art Students League of New York
1999-2000 Study of Sculpting
The Art Students League of New York
1999 Four-year studio certificate in Painting
The Art Students League of New York
1989 Licensed in Nutrition
Seitoku Eiyo Collage, Tokyo, Japan