Lucy Soni

Interested in the offhand, the accidental, and the compulsive, Soni’s processes play out, equally meticulous, repetitive and oriented toward a fast, flat impeccable surface. Her compositions start as small scribbles on paper that communicate a sense of urgency. Through tracing, enlarging, repeating, and layering, Soni transfers these forms to canvases on a much larger scale. This process produces carefully balanced paintings which unite impulsive mark-making and high art. “Making art is an attempt to unravel and communicate what can’t always be put into words.” Says Soni. “My paintings are exercises in patience, accuracy and taste, seeking to celebrate colour and form, embracing the absurd pursuit of unattainable perfection.”

Education

1997

BA of Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art and Design

1993

BTEC National Diploma in General Art and Design, Kent Institute Of Art and Design

Selected Exhibitions

2022
Flow, Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, NY

2021
KICKSTART: A Group Show, Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, NY

2020
The Wells Art Contemporary Exhibition, Wells, Somerset, UK
Open – Up, Hestercombe Gallery, Somerset, UK
Beyond The Shit Show, @beyond_the_shitshow online Instagram show
Start Somewhere, Voltz Clarke Gallery X Penske Projects, New York, NY

2019
The Quick Slow, Voltz Clarke Gallery, The Colony Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL
Flag Fiasco Why Don’t You…? HQ. Hong Kong
Art Car Boot Fair, Margate
Pillow Talk, Austrian Cultural Forum, London
Return of Come Kiss A Stranger, Why Don’t You…? HQ Satellite Space, London Work-Shop, Bell House, Dulwich, London
Work-Shop. Bell House, Dulwich, London

2018
Why Don’t You…? HQ, London
John Moores Painting Prize. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Art Car Boot Fair, London
Strong & Stable, Asylum Chapel, Peckham, London
Presenting Mostly Yourselves, Six Caroline Place, Plymouth
Dreaming Awake, Safe house 1, Peckham London

2017
Mega Hammer. An Evening of Performances + DRAF 10th Anniversary KOKO, London
Lucky 7 Rides Again. Why Don’t You…?HQ. Artlicks Weekend, London
TRUTH LIES WITHIN. The Subculture Archives. London
Picture This… Bell House, Dulwich Open House. London
Razzle Dazzle. The Arches Studios Dulwich Open House, London
44 (solo show) Why Don’t You…?HQ. London
Blink. Market Peckham, SLWA. London

2016
Return of the Lucky 7. Why Don’t You…?HQ. Artlicks Weekend, London
Pillow Talk at BBC 100 Women. Broadcasting House. London
AAF. Cat St Gallery. Hong Kong
Pillow Talk at TEDx UCLWomen. London
Mega Hammer. Glasgow International, Glasgow, Scotland
Pillow Talk. SLWA and the Women’s Art Library, Brixton East. London

2015
Lucky 7. Why Don’t You…?HQ. Artlicks Weekend, London
Art Car Boot Fair. Margate, Kent
CHAR NAH! HOR. Glasgow Open House Art Festival, Glasgow, Scotland
eye music. Dulwich Festival. The Arches Courtyard Space. Peckham, London
Burlesque & Allegory. Asylum Chapel. Peckham, London

2014
Finders Keepers Losers Weepers. Conway Hall, London
Annual Open #30. CGP London, Southwark Park, London

2013
#ItsInTheBag as Parliament Week Partner. @theWHYfront, Hide Gallery, London
Artlicks Weekend. Hide Gallery Leathermarket. Bermondsey, London
From The Archive. Bermondsey Street Festival, London
Piece work. Espacio Gallery. Brick Lane, London
Zeitgeist Summer Exhibition. ASC Studios. New Cross, London
Brixton Art Trail. Brixton Village, London
I’m Inside, Ring The Bell! SLWA at 4749 Tanner St, London
Between Lines. The Arches Courtyard Space. Peckham, London
International Postcard Show. Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Tender. SLWA at The Stephen Lawrence Centre. Deptford, London

2012
The Armory Show VIP Home Tour. New York, NY
snap! SLWA at Bankside Gallery, London
Peckham Space Open. Peckham, London
Annual Open #28. CGP London, Southwark Park, London

2011
Manhattan House Unveiled. Curated by Voltz Clarke,New York, NY
The Armory Show VIP Home Tour. New York, NY
Pickett’s Press Open House. New York, NY
Glimpsed. SLWA at House Gallery, Camberwell, London

2010
Licking out of the Same Bowl. DVF Gallery, New York
Go Go City. (solo show) The Sophie Croxten Doll House Gallery, London
Bedizzened. APT Gallery, London
Close to Home. Spaceman Gallery, London
SLWA Bankside. Bankside Gallery, London

2009
Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair. London
Line and Colour. The Art Works Galleries, Newcastle

2008
Front Window. Camberwell Arts Week, London

2006
London Bridges. presented by Blair Clarke, Virgil DeVoldere Gallery, New York.

2002
Gatsby. The New Lansdowne Club, London

1995 – 2001
Handful of Showoffs. Marle Place Gallery, Kent. UK
Articulture. Southbank, London.
Text In Art. The Poetry Cafe, London
King Sturge. Davis Street Gallery, London
“Blanc’’. Putney Exchange, London
Outpost. Venice Biennale

Projects / Competitions / Awards / Prizes

Assisted and participated in performances for Marvin Gaye Chetwynd (formerly
Spartacus Chetwynd), including:
Here She Comes, Arts Council Collection’s 70th Anniversary Commissions.

2016
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank. London

2014

Hermitos Children 2. Studio Voltaire, London
The Green Room. Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, UK

2013

Southwark Arts Forum SAFTA. Visual Arts Award – Dinner Party, SLWA

2012

Turner Prize. Tate Britain, London

2011
Odd Man Out. Sadie Coles HQ, London

2009
Hermitos Children, Altermodern. Tate Britain

Front Window. Camberwell Arts Festival

2008
The Snail Race. Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan

Consequences at Spartacus Chewynd’s Helmut Newton Ladies Night

Part of Event Horizon at the Royal Academy of Art, London

2007

Charity commission for The Children’s Trust Tadworth

2006
Delirious. Serpentine Pavilion
The Fall of Man. Tate Triennial

2005
Becks Futures. ICA

2004
Born Free. Gasworks

Publications

2019

Pillow Talk – conversations with women – Book collaboration between South London Women Artists and the Women’s Art Library, Goldsmiths, University of London.

2015

Eye music – a rare exhibition. Dulwich OnView

2014

Finders Keepers Losers Weepers. Archaelogy of mind. SLWA Publishing
The Dinner Party. SLWA Publishing

2013

Piecework. Exhibition catalogue by Jackie Brown, Pia Randall-Goddard & Pat Kaey

2012

snap! SLWA diary catalogue. Text by Dr Lara Perry, Althea Greenan & Sarah Sparkes

2011

SLWA at Bankside. Exhibition catalogue
Glimpsed. by Kim Thornton. Dulwich OnView