BIOGRAPHY
Sonia Bhamra is an award-winning, multidisciplinary visual artist based in Birmingham, UK, known for her innovative approach to storytelling through photography. With a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Sonia defines her creative process as "painting with photography," blending conceptual and surrealist influences with documentary techniques. Her work delves deeply into pressing social and environmental issues, crafting visual metaphors that encourage viewers to see the world from a fresh perspective.
Inspired by contemporary events, Sonia's art brings attention to themes that demand greater awareness, such as the anthropological impact on our planet and global social challenges. Through her unique fusion of realism and imagination, she tackles subjects that society may overlook or has become desensitized to, presenting them in ways that provoke thought and inspire reflection. By aligning her art with causes that matter, Sonia views her work as a "visual arm" for change, believing that when art carries a message, it has the power to shape perceptions and foster dialogue.
In 2019, Sonia’s talent and unique perspective earned her a place among the top 8 contestants on Sky Arts Master of Photography, the largest photography competition in Europe, chosen from over 7,000 applicants across the UK, Italy, Germany, Ireland, and Austria. This experience not only showcased her distinctive style but also solidified her commitment to using art as a vehicle for social commentary and transformation. Sky Arts Master of Photography 4
Through her practice, Sonia invites viewers to engage with the world’s complexities and challenges in new ways, encouraging a deeper awareness of the issues that shape our collective reality. Her work serves as both a mirror and a lens, offering a compelling view of the familiar and the overlooked.
EXHIBITIONS
2023
EARTH PHOTO 2023 “Save Our Forests’ Earth Photo exhibition, opening at the Royal Geographical Society, in London, from 17 June to 23 August 2023 , and five Forestry England sites across the country, from 23 June 2023 to 28 January 2024.
The exhibition will also tour to the Sidney Nolan Trust, Herefordshire, from 13 July to 30 September 2023, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, from 1 February 2024 to 1 March 2024
Lishui International Photography Festival, China in December 2023.
2022
DECADE OF CHANGE | British Journal of Photography ‘Dressed In Excess’ The winning works will be exhibited as part of a touring exhibition, starting off at City Quays Gallery as part of Belfast Photo Festival, from 03 June to 04 September 2022.
InCadaqués x British Journal of Photography photo festival, Spain, September – October 2022
2021
British Journal of Photography | EDITION 365 Two winning images ‘The Last Iceberg’ and ‘Stuck in Plastic’ selected by 1854 and British Journal of Photography in collaboration with New Art City, welcome to Edition365: a portrait of the year that changed everything. Immersive digital exhibition.
2019
ImageNation - Paris Photo Off ‘Fragments’ selected for International photo expo at Galerie Joseph Le Marais, Paris 8-10 November 2019.
Atlas of Humanity - Paris Photo Off ‘Breaking the mould’ at Atlas of Humanity photo expo at Galerie Joseph Le Marais, Paris 8-10 November 2019.
ARTICLES/PRESS
THE TIMES Earth Photo: the changing face of our precious planet
Foto Femme United The Illusion of Separation
Sony World Photography Awards “The Last Iceberg” Pick of the pics | World photography Organisation.