Born and raised in Japan, Sonomi Kobayashi, is a New York based painter and printmaker who is interested in science, physics, stars, nature, and spirituality.
Her work is symbolic and abstract. Her recent oil paintings are based on images that she saw during her meditation. She also paints symbolic shapes that she finds attractive in nature. Her ink drawings and printmaking works are organic and abstract. She likes to mix traditional and contemporary techniques and experiment with materials, color, and shapes.
Her work has been exhibited in the United States, Japan, and Europe, including Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (NYC), Ground Floor Gallery(NYC), Lesley Heller Workspace (NYC), Galerie ARTAe, (Leipzig Germany), The National Art Center Museum (Tokyo), Galerie La (Tokyo, Japan). She received Will Barnet Grant in Printmaking in 2013, participated in residencies at MASS MoCA (MA), Vermont Studio Center (VT), ASL Vytlacil Campus (NY), and Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre (France). Her work was purchased and became a part of the permanent collection of Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in 2014. Her current studio is in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY.
Her work is symbolic and abstract. Her recent oil paintings are based on images that she saw during her meditation. She also paints symbolic shapes that she finds attractive in nature. Her ink drawings and printmaking works are organic and abstract. She likes to mix traditional and contemporary techniques and experiment with materials, color, and shapes.
Her work has been exhibited in the United States, Japan, and Europe, including Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (NYC), Ground Floor Gallery(NYC), Lesley Heller Workspace (NYC), Galerie ARTAe, (Leipzig Germany), The National Art Center Museum (Tokyo), Galerie La (Tokyo, Japan). She received Will Barnet Grant in Printmaking in 2013, participated in residencies at MASS MoCA (MA), Vermont Studio Center (VT), ASL Vytlacil Campus (NY), and Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre (France). Her work was purchased and became a part of the permanent collection of Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in 2014. Her current studio is in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY.
CV
SOLO and TWO PERSONS EXHIBITIONS
2017 Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan, "Shirushi -Symbols" (Solo)
2016 Showroom der Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany, "Shirushi -Signs and Symbols", Curated by Sabine Elsner (Solo)
2014 Gallery 494, Tokyo, Japan (Solo), Curated by Bin Nio
2013 Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany, "Paintings and Work on Paper", Curated by Sabine Elsner (Solo)
BOE Winery Tasting Room, Brooklyn, NY, Selected for the BOE Winery's 2010 Chardonnay label and Exhibition at the tasting room
2011 ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Kontinuum (Continuum), Sonomi Kobayashi and Bettina Lüdicke” (Two)
2008 ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "Ex oriente lux (the Light Comes from the East), Sonomi Kobayashi / Udo Klenner”
2007 Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre Gallery, Sainte Colombe, France, "Human, Nature, Connection, Thoughts, Tension, Balance, Harmony, and Synchronicity" (Solo)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, NYC, "AMONG FRIENDS"
White Cube Gallery, Nagoya, Japan, ""Illusion of Spontaneity: Angel's Share" , Three persons exhibition
2018 341 FSN Gallery, Los Angels, CA, "Seeds of Our Grandmothers' Dreams" Curated by Kyoko Nakamaru and JAWS
MoMA PS1, Queens, NY, "NY Art Book Fair"
Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, "Illusion of Spontaneity" Curated by YoungGi Han
Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT, "Revisited", Curated by York Baker and Linda Butler
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, "Pop Goes the Weasel", Curated by William Norton
Printed Matter and Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY, "Japanese Young Artists' Books Fair"
The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan, "The 16th New Artists Unite 21th Century Art Exhibition", Selected by Hiroaki Watanabe
2017 MoMA PS1, Queens, NY, "NY Art Book Fair"
Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY, "Alien God", Curated by Tyrome Tripoli
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, "JART -Japanese Emerging Artists Exhibition", Curated by Hiro Shiraishi
Printed Matter and Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY, "Japanese Young Artists' Books Fair"
Makers Mill, North Adams, MA, "MASS MoCA Residents Open Studios"
2016 XASociety Gallery, New York, NY, "Pre Basel Art Exhibition", Curated by Aurora Crowley
USAGI NY, Brooklyn, NY, "AccessArt" Brooklyn Art Council Benefit
Lorimoto, Brooklyn, NY, "Open Call"
Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
BLAM Brooklyn, NY, "Abstract Thought", Curated by Paul Catalanotto
Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY, selected by Art Students League out reach program
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "10 year Anniversary Group Exhibition", Curated by Sabine Elsner
2015 Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, “Holiday Show”
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League of New York, NY, "Grant Winner's Exhibition"
The Factory, LIC, NY, "Shangri-la", Curated by John Baber and Miguel Luciano
BOS2015, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
skrl art prjct, New York, NY, "Flat File Show"
2014 Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany, “Color, Lacquer, Oil, and Concrete”, Curated by Sabine Elsner
Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Wonderland”
Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, “Over the Edge: Paperworks Unbound”
Part 1: Juried by Claire Gilman, Curator at the Drawing Center, Part 2: Curated by Yuko Nii
Gitana Rosa Gallery Chelsea, New York, NY, “Juicy”, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
BOS2014, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn NY, "THE EDITIONS", Curated by Vanessa Liberati
Japanese Consulate, New York, NY, "MIRAI", Curated by Kayo Hashimoto
C.A.R. Art fair, Essen Germany, Galerie ARTAe
Fire House, Brooklyn, NY, "Flow" with Pauline Kim Harris (violin)
Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY, "Three Artists | Three Reflections"
EMOA Space Chelsea, New York, NY
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League of New York, NY, "Scholarship Winner's Exhibition"
BOS2013, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Vytlacil Artists-in-Residence Open Studios, Sparkill, NY
Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “ The Others”, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
GO Brooklyn Open Studios by Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2012, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Gallery Shoshin-Kan, Nagano, Japan, “art for happiness”
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, New York, NY, “Decorator Show House”
2011 Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, “Holiday Salon Show”, Curated by John Baber
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Blattbildung #2 (Sheet Forming #2)” , Curated by Sabine Elsner
Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
artMRKT Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
BOS2011, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2010 Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Ars Graphis”
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Blattbildung - Grafik und Zeichnung (Sheet Forming - Diagram and Drawing)”
OIL SLICK, Brooklyn, NY, Curator: Bruno Perillo and Vanessa Liberati
AAF, Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY, with Gitana Rosa Gallery
TEASE Art Fair, Cologne, Germany, Curator: Sabine Aichele-Elsner, Galerie ARTAe
2009 Miami Verge Art Fair, Miami, FL, with Gitana Rosa Gallery, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
Yatsuo Slow Art Show, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
Warehouse 9, Copenhagen, Denmark, “POP OUT : Copenhagen”, Danish German Art Week
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "Wintermärchen (Winter fairy tale)", Curator: Sabine Aichele- Elsner
Priska Juschka Fine Art, New York, NY, “Benefit for Nicole: A Postcard show”
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, The Armory Arts Week Open Studios
2008 Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exihibiter
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Deutscher Frühherbst (German early autumn)”, Curated by Sabine Elsner
2007 Crane Street Studios, LIC, NY, "Plaque Sabbath", Studio Benefit Exhibition, Co-organizer and Exihibiter
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exhibiter
2006 Sablier de Verrier, Nagoya, Japan, “Hearts of New York Vol. 1. Abstract Artists from New York” Curator: Sumi Ieda-Clarke
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exhibiter
2005 Concepto Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Flower Show”, Curator: Kiyoshi Ike
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios
2004 OMORI Bellport Atrium, Tokyo, Japan, Juried French-Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition
Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan, Design Festa
Walter Wickiser Gallery, Soho, NY, NY, “Color & Life”, Curator: Masumi Doeda
AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “In the Midst of Things”, Curator: Yang Kong
chashama 217, New York, NY, Motion Sculpture Movement Installation “Performance, sound and visual art”
Michael Perez Gallery, New York, NY, PS 234 Benefit Art Auction
lesx Gallery, New York, NY, “HOWL!” Festival of East Village Arts
2003 Limner Gallery, New York, NY, Juried exhibition
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY, “Accumulative Efforts” Curator: Yang Kong
2002 Grist Mill Gallery, Bronx, NY, “Space Dust” Curator: Tatusya Nakatani
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY, “Leaps and Bounds”, Curator: Yang Kong
Design Festa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
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
2014 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
WORKSHOPS AND TEACHING
2018 Printmaking Workshop, Herald Square Outdoor Art, New York, NY
2017 Origami Workshop, 50th Anniversary of Public Art in New York City Parks, Central Park, New York, NY
2017-Present. Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, J Hood Wright Center, New York, NY
2017-Present. Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, Asser Levy Center, New York, NY
2017 Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, ARROW Field House, New York, NY
2013-Present Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, Hansborough Center, New York, NY
2015 Collagraph Workshop for Adults, New York City Park and Recreation, Brownsville Center, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Yatsuo Slow Art Workshop, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan, Workshops by contemporary artists for Kashio Elementary School Students
2017 Galerie La, Tokyo, Japan, "Shirushi -Symbols" (Solo)
2016 Showroom der Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany, "Shirushi -Signs and Symbols", Curated by Sabine Elsner (Solo)
2014 Gallery 494, Tokyo, Japan (Solo), Curated by Bin Nio
2013 Showroom Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig, Germany, "Paintings and Work on Paper", Curated by Sabine Elsner (Solo)
BOE Winery Tasting Room, Brooklyn, NY, Selected for the BOE Winery's 2010 Chardonnay label and Exhibition at the tasting room
2011 ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Kontinuum (Continuum), Sonomi Kobayashi and Bettina Lüdicke” (Two)
2008 ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "Ex oriente lux (the Light Comes from the East), Sonomi Kobayashi / Udo Klenner”
2007 Cat'Art Contemporary Art Centre Gallery, Sainte Colombe, France, "Human, Nature, Connection, Thoughts, Tension, Balance, Harmony, and Synchronicity" (Solo)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center, NYC, "AMONG FRIENDS"
White Cube Gallery, Nagoya, Japan, ""Illusion of Spontaneity: Angel's Share" , Three persons exhibition
2018 341 FSN Gallery, Los Angels, CA, "Seeds of Our Grandmothers' Dreams" Curated by Kyoko Nakamaru and JAWS
MoMA PS1, Queens, NY, "NY Art Book Fair"
Amos Eno Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, "Illusion of Spontaneity" Curated by YoungGi Han
Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, CT, "Revisited", Curated by York Baker and Linda Butler
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, "Pop Goes the Weasel", Curated by William Norton
Printed Matter and Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY, "Japanese Young Artists' Books Fair"
The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan, "The 16th New Artists Unite 21th Century Art Exhibition", Selected by Hiroaki Watanabe
2017 MoMA PS1, Queens, NY, "NY Art Book Fair"
Gallery Petite, Brooklyn, NY, "Alien God", Curated by Tyrome Tripoli
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, "JART -Japanese Emerging Artists Exhibition", Curated by Hiro Shiraishi
Printed Matter and Kinokuniya Book Store, New York, NY, "Japanese Young Artists' Books Fair"
Makers Mill, North Adams, MA, "MASS MoCA Residents Open Studios"
2016 XASociety Gallery, New York, NY, "Pre Basel Art Exhibition", Curated by Aurora Crowley
USAGI NY, Brooklyn, NY, "AccessArt" Brooklyn Art Council Benefit
Lorimoto, Brooklyn, NY, "Open Call"
Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
BLAM Brooklyn, NY, "Abstract Thought", Curated by Paul Catalanotto
Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY, selected by Art Students League out reach program
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "10 year Anniversary Group Exhibition", Curated by Sabine Elsner
2015 Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, “Holiday Show”
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League of New York, NY, "Grant Winner's Exhibition"
The Factory, LIC, NY, "Shangri-la", Curated by John Baber and Miguel Luciano
BOS2015, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
skrl art prjct, New York, NY, "Flat File Show"
2014 Galerie ARTAe, Leipzig Germany, “Color, Lacquer, Oil, and Concrete”, Curated by Sabine Elsner
Ground Floor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Wonderland”
Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY, “Over the Edge: Paperworks Unbound”
Part 1: Juried by Claire Gilman, Curator at the Drawing Center, Part 2: Curated by Yuko Nii
Gitana Rosa Gallery Chelsea, New York, NY, “Juicy”, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
BOS2014, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn NY, "THE EDITIONS", Curated by Vanessa Liberati
Japanese Consulate, New York, NY, "MIRAI", Curated by Kayo Hashimoto
C.A.R. Art fair, Essen Germany, Galerie ARTAe
Fire House, Brooklyn, NY, "Flow" with Pauline Kim Harris (violin)
Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, NY, "Three Artists | Three Reflections"
EMOA Space Chelsea, New York, NY
Phyllis Harriman Mason Gallery, The Art Students League of New York, NY, "Scholarship Winner's Exhibition"
BOS2013, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Vytlacil Artists-in-Residence Open Studios, Sparkill, NY
Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “ The Others”, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
GO Brooklyn Open Studios by Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
BOS2012, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
Gallery Shoshin-Kan, Nagano, Japan, “art for happiness”
Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, New York, NY, “Decorator Show House”
2011 Lesley Heller Workspace, New York, NY, “Holiday Salon Show”, Curated by John Baber
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Blattbildung #2 (Sheet Forming #2)” , Curated by Sabine Elsner
Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
artMRKT Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
BOS2011, Arts in Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2010 Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Ars Graphis”
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Blattbildung - Grafik und Zeichnung (Sheet Forming - Diagram and Drawing)”
OIL SLICK, Brooklyn, NY, Curator: Bruno Perillo and Vanessa Liberati
AAF, Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY, with Gitana Rosa Gallery
TEASE Art Fair, Cologne, Germany, Curator: Sabine Aichele-Elsner, Galerie ARTAe
2009 Miami Verge Art Fair, Miami, FL, with Gitana Rosa Gallery, Curated by Vanessa Liberati
Yatsuo Slow Art Show, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan
Warehouse 9, Copenhagen, Denmark, “POP OUT : Copenhagen”, Danish German Art Week
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, "Wintermärchen (Winter fairy tale)", Curator: Sabine Aichele- Elsner
Priska Juschka Fine Art, New York, NY, “Benefit for Nicole: A Postcard show”
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, The Armory Arts Week Open Studios
2008 Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exihibiter
ARTAe Galerie & Kunstvermittlung, Leipzig, Germany, “Deutscher Frühherbst (German early autumn)”, Curated by Sabine Elsner
2007 Crane Street Studios, LIC, NY, "Plaque Sabbath", Studio Benefit Exhibition, Co-organizer and Exihibiter
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exhibiter
2006 Sablier de Verrier, Nagoya, Japan, “Hearts of New York Vol. 1. Abstract Artists from New York” Curator: Sumi Ieda-Clarke
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios, Co-organizer and Exhibiter
2005 Concepto Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “Flower Show”, Curator: Kiyoshi Ike
Crane Street Studios, Long Island City, NY, Open Studios
2004 OMORI Bellport Atrium, Tokyo, Japan, Juried French-Japanese Contemporary Art Exhibition
Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan, Design Festa
Walter Wickiser Gallery, Soho, NY, NY, “Color & Life”, Curator: Masumi Doeda
AAWAA Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, “In the Midst of Things”, Curator: Yang Kong
chashama 217, New York, NY, Motion Sculpture Movement Installation “Performance, sound and visual art”
Michael Perez Gallery, New York, NY, PS 234 Benefit Art Auction
lesx Gallery, New York, NY, “HOWL!” Festival of East Village Arts
2003 Limner Gallery, New York, NY, Juried exhibition
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY, “Accumulative Efforts” Curator: Yang Kong
2002 Grist Mill Gallery, Bronx, NY, “Space Dust” Curator: Tatusya Nakatani
Phoenix Gallery, New York, NY, “Leaps and Bounds”, Curator: Yang Kong
Design Festa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
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
2014 Yuko Nii Foundation of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
WORKSHOPS AND TEACHING
2018 Printmaking Workshop, Herald Square Outdoor Art, New York, NY
2017 Origami Workshop, 50th Anniversary of Public Art in New York City Parks, Central Park, New York, NY
2017-Present. Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, J Hood Wright Center, New York, NY
2017-Present. Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, Asser Levy Center, New York, NY
2017 Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, ARROW Field House, New York, NY
2013-Present Seeds of The League, Children's after school program, New York City Parks and Recreation, Hansborough Center, New York, NY
2015 Collagraph Workshop for Adults, New York City Park and Recreation, Brownsville Center, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Yatsuo Slow Art Workshop, Yatsuo, Toyama, Japan, Workshops by contemporary artists for Kashio Elementary School Students
