Thread of inspiration: Fabric portraits of Female Artists - Sonia Boyce

Have you heard of the Artist Sonia Boyce? She is a Dame and the first black woman to represent the UK at the Venice Biennale, winning the Golden Lion prize with her work ‘Feeling her way’.

Dame Sonia Dawn Boyce DBE RA is a British Afro-Caribbean artist and educator, living and working in London. She is a Professor of Black Art and Design at University of the Arts London.

I made a fabric portrait of Sonia Boyce, (that was before she won the Golden Lion prize), and this work was accepted at the Royal Academy Summer Show in 2021. The portrait sold on day one to an artist called Eve de Haan, who is married to the rap artist Tiny Tempah.

Sonia is an interdisciplinary artist and academic working across film, photography, print, sound and installation. Boyce creates immersive and experiential spaces. If you get a chance, take a look at her paintings from the 1980’s and her very powerful video installations.