My name is Sofia Shabunevich and I am an artist.
I was born in 1996 in Daugavpils, Latvia. I have been deeply passionate about painting since childhood, in 2016 graduated from Janis Rozentals art school. Now I'm living in Riga where I have my art-studio, make art and teach people.
There are no limits to how an artist can express themselves, so I work in various styles, genres and techniques. I create abstractions, landscapes, portraits and figurative art. Mostly, I paint with oil but from time to time I also create graphic and three-dimensional works.
A painting depicts just a short second, captures a fleeting moment, however there is a lot of development, experiences and emotions behind it. There is a story of love and hate, of pain and pleasure, of ups and downs behind every painted object, every paint stain.
I don’t start painting before I understand what it is I want to create. I listen to music, I experience emotions, I drink coffee, I dance, I read books, I write poems, I pray, I walk, I drive by car, I meet people, I talk with them and during these daily adventures I visualize a lot and think about what my next painting should look like. Once Michelangelo was asked how he created his famous sculpture of David and he said that he saw him already in the stone. In the same way, when I look at an empty canvas, I already see a painting on it. At the same time making art is like playing a game and there are many unpredictable steps. It is very significant to take risks, gamble, mix and change colors during a process. When you look at painter's work, you don’t look at his talent only: you look at his courage, patience and faith in the process.
To me, being an artist means to paint without fear and have an authority. Even the most unexpected and peculiar forms and shades inspire trust when the true artist speaks. Great art provides a sense of comfort and satisfaction, whether it is a complex, highly detalised realistic painting or a minimalistic abstract art.
My paintings are purchased by art collectors from all around the world: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, Israel, UAE, Kazakhstan, Norway, Sweden, UK, USA, Belarus and Russia. I am thankful to everyone who has chosen my art to brighten their interiors.
EXHIBITIONS:
FIRST PERSONAL EXHIBITION "THE BREATH"
2019
HOTEL "LATGOLA", DAUGAVPILS, LATVIA
"THE WATERFALL"
2020
KRĀSLAVA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART, LATVIA
JOINT EXHIBITION "IEKŠPUS-ĀRPUS"
2020
DAUGAVPILS MARK ROTHKO ART CENTRE, LATVIA
"NATURE"
2020
THE REGIONAL MUSEUM "SELIJA", LATVIA
"ALL"
2023
ATTA CENTRE, LATVIA