Sonali Patel
Bio
Sonali is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist from Adelaide whose oeuvres are metaphorical explorations of identity and human interconnectivity with the natural environment.
She is interested in exploring the intersection between art, science, nature and nurture. Her practice interrogates the impact of consumerism on our fragile environment and social concerns regarding universal human experiences.
In 2023 Sonali has exhibited her work in Rossocinabro Gallery Rome, La Pigna Gallery Rome, International Contemporary Art Fair Paris, Nippon Gallery Mumbai, Galeria Azur Berlin, and Van Gogh Art Gallery Madrid. She was selected for an artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux, France which she completed in 2023.
Sonali was selected for the 2010 Adelaide International workshop with French contemporary artist Jorge Orta, creating large scale hearts from recycled plastic bottles. These were exhibited at Apart, We are together, Jam Factory. In 2011, on Jorge's invitation Sonali completed an art residency at Studio Orta in Paris. She worked with a team of international artists to create sculptural installations later exhibited at Galerie d'Art Contemporain, in Versailles. Jorge invited her in 2017 to Studio Orta to create large scale contemporary paintings.
In 2012, Narcissus Reflecting was selected for the Ceramics Triennial as part of Germinate. In 2017 Heartland was a finalist for the Advertiser SALA Contemporary Art Award, and artist residency at the SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) with a solo exhibition A Heart has a Thousand Names.
In 2018, she won the ACMD Acquisitive Art Prize, Melbourne for A Passionate Heart. Recently in 2019, Meltdown was selected as a Finalist in the Prospect Portrait Prize and Mise-en-scene as a Finalist for the Climate Urban Cow Prize.
In 2020, she was a Finalist for the Du Rietz Art Awards and In 2021 a finalist in the Tatiara Art Prize, Brunswick Small Works Art Prize, All Connections to Unley Prize, and By George Art Prize.
In 2022, she was selected as a Finalist in the Gallery M Contemporary Art prize, and her large outdoor sculptural installation Musical Chairs was a finalist in the 2022 Heysen Sculpture Biennial at Carrick Hill.
