SOFIA ATHINEOU
Artist's Statement
Sofia Athineou is a full-time artist of Greek heritage. She works mainly with glass, a medium with many sensual and optical qualities. Her sculptures capture the surrounding nature of the Waitakere Ranges, where her studio is located and the organic forms of elemental forces like wind, fire and water. The constant movement and natural patterns of these elements are captured in her sculptures. Sofia is fascinated by the way glass looks and feels and its natural ability to reflect and distort light and our perception of it.
A recent public commission for Auckland Transport Maungawhau/Mount Eden Station is currently in construction and due to be open to the public in (insert year). For it, Athineou has created red glass triangles representing the god of volcanic activity incorporating cultural narratives and the geological context of the station area with the technical and functional needs of a train station.
Sofia has taught numerous glass casting workshops at Corbans Estate Arts Centre and is represented by Black Door Gallery, Te Uru Gallery, Corbans Estate Arts Center and West Coast Gallery in Auckland, Waiheke Community Arts Gallery in Waiheke and Ora Gallery in Wellington.
Solo Exhibitions and Duos
2019
Sirines, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, October
2017
Reflections, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, January-February
2013
Chroma, Arts Post, Hamilton, Sept-Oct
2010
Octopus's Garden, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, May
2009
Natural Patterns, Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi Auckland July-August
2008
One Day Glass Show, at Zeal, Henderson Auckland, December
Exhibitions
2019
Colab, Members Show, Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, Jan-Mar
Sirines, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, October
2018
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Outdoor & Indoor Exhibition, Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Greater Auckland Art Awards and Exhibition, September
2017
Franklin Arts Festival, September
Reflections, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, January-February
2016
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Outdoor & Indoor Exhibition, Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
30th Arts and Sculpture Awards at Corbans Estate Arts Center, September
NZSAG Members Show, Morringsville Wallace Art Gallery, Nov-Dec
NZSAG Members Show,TSB Wallace Art Center, Oct-Nov
2015
The Royal Easter Show, April
2014
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
A Blast of Glass Exhibition, Estuary Arts Center, OREWA, September
Shape Shifter, Civic Gardens Lower Hutt, February-March
NZSAG Members Show, TSB Wallace Art Center, October 2014
2013
8Create, West Auckland, March
Chroma, Arts Post, Hamilton, Sept-Oct
2012
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October-November
Shape Shifter, Civic Gardens Lower Hutt, February-March
NZSAG Members Show, TSB Wallace Art Center, October
2011
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October-November
All Glass, Kingsland, Auckland, September-October
Waitakere Home & Garden Show,The Trusts Stadium,Waitakere City,April
Arataki Visitors Center, Waitakere Ranges, October- February
Fresh, Corban Estate Art Center, October-December
24thWaitakereTrustArtAwards&LincolnGreenSculptureAwards,CorbanEstate,Nov
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park ,Waitakaruru Arboretum October
Kings College Art Sale, Otahuhu, Auckland, November
Bursting Bubbles, Essenze, Auckland, October
The Royal Easter Show, April
The “f” word, West Coast Gallery, February
2010
Octopus's Garden, West Coast Gallery, Piha, Auckland, May
2009
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, November
Objective Art Awards Nathan Homestead, Manurewa, October
Luminus, Lake House Arts Center, October
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October
Eye Candy, Corban Estate Art Center, October
Glass, The Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards September
Natural Patterns, Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi Auckland July-August
Quintessence, Mairangi Art Center, August
Eye for Sculpture at Clevedon November
Wild, West Coast Gallery, July
10 Years Of Glass, Artstation Gallery, February
2008
One Day Glass Show, at Zeal, Henderson Auckland, December
Eye For Sculpture, Auckland Botanic Gardens, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October
TheWaitakereTrustArtAwards,LincolnGreenSculptureAwards&TwinStreamProjectAward,Oct
Henderson Valley Primary School Silent Auction, November
Artworks at the Hilton, August
St Andrews Church Art Exhibition, August
Marine Exhibition, The Nikau Gallery, January
2007
Objective Art Awards Nathan Homestead, Manurewa
Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards: Glass
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, October
Henderson Valley Primary School Silent Auction, August
The Royal Easter Show, April
The Green Exhibition, The Nikau Gallery, February
2006
Mazda Artworks, August
The 9th Manukau Vessel and Sculpture Exhibition, November
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, November
NZSAG Glass Auction, December
Awards
2018
2nd Sculpture prize for Fragile Nature, Greater Auckland Art Awards, September
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Outdoor & Indoor Exhibition, Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Greater Auckland Art Awards and Exhibition, September
2016
3rd Sculpture prize for Save Me, 30th Arts and Sculpture Awards, September
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Outdoor & Indoor Exhibition, Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
30th Arts and Sculpture Awards at Corbans Estate Arts Center, September
2014
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
A Blast of Glass Exhibition, Estuary Arts Center, OREWA, September
Shape Shifter, Civic Gardens Lower Hutt, February-March
2012
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October-November
Shape Shifter, Civic Gardens Lower Hutt, February-March
2011
Runner-Up for “Amfitriti”,Trends Sculptor Of The Year Awards, April
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October-November
2010
Judges choice for “Amfitriti” at The Royal Easter Show, April
Fresh, Corban Estate Art Center, October-December
24thWaitakereTrustArtAwards&LincolnGreenSculptureAwards,CorbanEstate,Nov
NZ Sculpture On Shore, Indoor Exhibition, Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park ,Waitakaruru Arboretum October
2009
3rd prize for “Amfitriti” at the Objective Art Awards, Manurewa
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, November
Objective Art Awards Nathan Homestead, Manurewa, October
Luminus, Lake House Arts Center, October
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October
Eye Candy, Corban Estate Art Center, October
Glass, The Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards September
Quintessence, Mairangi Art Center, August
2008
Eye For Sculpture, Auckland Botanic Gardens, November
Re-Fraction at The Sculpture Park, Waitakaruru Arboretum October
TheWaitakereTrustArtAwards,LincolnGreenSculptureAwards&TwinStreamProjectAward,Oct
2007
Objective Art Awards Nathan Homestead, Manurewa
Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards: Glass
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, October
2006
3rd prize for “Lahani” at the 9th Manukau Vessel and Sculpture Exhibition
1st merit award for “Pathos” at the Waitakere Trust Art Awards
The 9th Manukau Vessel and Sculpture Exhibition, November
The Waitakere Trust Art Awards and Lincoln Green Sculpture Awards, November
Events and Public Speaking
2020
“An aspect of my work” Speech CEAC January
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2019
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2018
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2017
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2016
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2015
Open Studios Waitakeres, November
2012
West Artists Open Studio Weekend, West Auckland, March
Teaching Glass Casting
2020
Summer School at CEAC
Term 4 classes at CEAC
2019
Term 3 classes at CEAC
Publications and Media
2020
April to June Booklet page 10, CEAC
Summer School Booklet front cover and page 4, CEAC
January to March Booklet page 16, CEAC
Poster for Summer School CEAC
Bus Advertising in West Auckland Route for CEAC
2019
July to September Booklet page 12, CEAC
April to June Booklet page 10, CEAC
“Amfitriti” was featured at the back of a West Auckland Bus for Summer School CEAC
Poster for “Sirines” Exhibition, West Coast Gallery October
2018
Interview for Voices, by Sara Vui-Talitu, RadioNZ, November,
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018670567
Channel magazine, Issue 93, page 79, November
NZ Sculpture OnShore, Video, https://vimeo.com/288264390 by NZSoS 2018
NZ Sculpture OnShore, Interview, September
Introducing NZSoS Artist Chats, interview, The Big Idea, July
Introducing Sofia Athineou, Video, https://vimeo.com/282254919 by NZSoS
What does NZSoS mean to you, Video, https://vimeo.com/273242691 by NZSoS
Greater Auckland Art Awards Finalists booklet, September
2017
Artists Interviews, Open Studios Waitakere, November
Reflections, West Coast Gallery, Poster, January-February
2016
Stuff.co.nz, video, NZSAG Members Exhibition, 22.11
Open Studuios Waitakere, catalogue, Nov
2015
Western Leader Newspaper,Article & Photo Cover page, 12.11
Open Studuios Waitakere, catalogue, Nov
Interview, Stuff.co.nz, November
2014
TV Neighbourhood Series 3 Episode: Oratia, September
Shape Shifter Catalogue, February
2012
Titirangi Tatler Newspaper, May
Vibrant Hutt, February
Shape Shifter Catalogue, February
West Artists Open Studio Weekend, programe and poster
2011
Kia Ora, Air New Zealand Inflight Magazine, November
TV one, Breakfast Show, Real NZ festival, Glass Art in Hamilton, 04 October
Piaco Post, art section, 29 July
2010
Manukau Festival Of Arts, pablication October
New Zealand Glass Art, book ISBN 978-1-86953-783-8, page 33, October
Objective Art Awards, Official entry form, poster and TV ad
Waitakaruru Sculpture Park, Re-Fraction, TV add
2009
TV one, Breakfast Show, Tamati at Manukau Festival of Arts, 19 October
Objective Art Awards, Catalog, October
The New Zealand Herald, back page, Wednesday, October 21,
Artzone, No 31 September November
Manukau Matters, Issue 78, 8 November
Artlink, Waitakere City Arts Newsletter, October November
Artlink, Waitakere City Arts Newsletter, August September
Glass, The Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards September , poster
Artlink, Waitakere City Arts Newsletter, June July
10 Years of Glass, poster, February
Artlink, Waitakere City Arts Newsletter, December January
2008
Eye For Sculpture, catalog, November
Hamilton Community Arts Council, Issue 23, October
Piako Post, 8th of October, page 31, interview
Hamilton Press, 1st of October, page 17, interview
2007
Glass The Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Awards, poster
Arts in the city, Manukau City Council, term 3 & 4, front cover
NZSAG Glass News, Issue 5, autumn
NZSAG Glass News, Issue 4, summer, interview
2006
NZSAG Glass News, Issue 3, spring
Reviews/Testimonials
05 August 2011
I have been involved with many artists from the early days of exhibitions at the PumpHouse, Sculpture OnShore (developed from exhibitions in our Takapuna garden) and Lake House Arts. I first encountered Sofia at Lake House and was impressed with her variety of skills and ideas. I purchased her large hanging multilevel glass sculpture in 2009 to compliment the collection we already have in our garden. She and her husband installed the work she returns regularly to care for it. Since then I have been admiring her work at other venues.
Genevieve Becroft QSM