Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Redfern.

Hi Sonia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

When I applied to university as an astronomy and physics major, I of course had to write an essay about why I was interested in the subjects. I almost couldn’t believe it was something I had to explain. Astronomy represented to me an unending exploration into how stars are made, how we are made, and how everything that ever was has come to be and is connected down to a subatomic level. Who wouldn’t want to know more about that?
I did pursue my studies in astronomy and considered a career in the field, however I ended up finding a deeper sense of fulfillment in exploring these ideas through a visual arts practice. Today I continue to bring my curiosity about our universe from science into my artwork, with paintings that remind us of our smallness in the vastness of space and our interconnectedness with our planet and everyone else on it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Pivoting from sciences into the arts was not the smoothest transition. I found that scientific spaces and artistic spaces each had their own cultures and reference points that were foreign to one another, so switching meant learning the new frame of reference, people and places to fit the new discipline.
Like many artists, I also had a deeply held belief from childhood that being an artist was “not a real job” so I tried my hand at a lot of other things along the way. In the end, showing up consistently with a spirit of helpfulness and curiosity for thing I want to do most has been the thing that has served me best on the journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I work with reclaimed textiles, from plaids to velvets, and I use nontoxic and eco-friendly paints as often as possible. I find immense gratification in experimenting with different materials, but also in recycling and reusing whenever possible. Part of that is how I was raised, both of my parents were always environmentally conscious people, but it’s also related directly to my subject matter. I’m painting the awe-inspiring world we live in and making a case for our connection with it, so it follows that my art making practices should be in service of protecting what we have to the best of my ability.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?

This is an area I would say I’m still working on, however, showing up with curiosity is what has worked best for me so far. Asking people questions about themselves and what they do because I’m genuinely interested and really actively listening to their responses creates a foundation for strong relationships, which for me is probably the ideal outcome of networking. In general, anyone who’s making something or researching something is interesting, and I want to know them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soniaredfern.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniaredfern