Sonja Kalb

Biography

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”

Wassily Kandinsky

Short Biography

The love of art and the need to express myself through colours and compositions have always accompanied me. Photographs, nature drawings, nude and portrait painting developed while training as a textile and design engineer have helped me develop a handwriting that is as precise artistically as it is sound on an artisanal level. Like many artists of the 20th and 21st century, I have turned from figurative painting first to collage and then to abstraction.

I reduce to the essential: shapes and the substance of colours. My means of expression are surface structures and textures, strong contrasts, at times expressive colour choices and play with colour surfaces that partly conceal, partly reveal what lies beneath. In order for the complexity and optical depth of the paintings to become perceptible, parts of the canvas remain open. To apply layers, I use paintbrushes and palette knives, oil crayons, pencil and pigments.

Travelling is my source of inspiration: I am guided by memories of a place’s colours, its nature, particular patterns of light and shadow. My artistic practice is a painted response to the disrespect of the environment and the fast pace of the increasingly digitalized world; an expression of my desire that we develop respect for the surrounding world and that we recognize the urgency of a sustainable protection of nature. The paintings’ titles refer to those sources of inspiration, subject areas and concerns. More importantly, though, my colour worlds are meant to invite viewers to go on a sensuous journey of discovery and to inspire thoughts and ideas of their own.

Sonja Kalb, 2021

Current & Upcoming

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Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
25 years VdDK

Opening, 14 March, 6 - 10 pm
Speeches from 19:30

15 March - 25 May 2025

This exhibition is not a retrospective of 181 years of the association's history, but a survey of the current work of VdDK members. It shows their current work and looks ahead to future artistic endeavours. Positions from all artistic genres are presented: Painting, graphic art, sculpture, photography and media art.
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 11am-6pm
Public holidays 11am-6pm

Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
Grabbeplatz 4
40211 Düsseldorf

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We cordially invite you to our New Year's exhibition with new works and highlights by
Joseph Beuys, Robbert de Goede, Bernd C. Dietrich, Irina and Marina Fabrizius, Sonja Kalb, Fabian Pfleger, Christoph Pöggeler, Reiner Seliger

10 - 31 January
Opening: Friday, 10 January, 5 - 7 pm

Galerie Kellermann
Cheruskerstr. 105
40545 Düsseldorf

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Aqua Art Miami 2024
4. - 8 December 2024

Preview
Wednesday, 4. December | 15:00 - 22:00

Opening hours:
Thursday, 5. December | 12:00 - 21:00
Friday, 6. December | 11:00 - 21:00
Saterday, 7. December | 11:00 - 21:00
Sunday, 8. December | 11:00 - 18:00

Aqua Art Miami
Arte Globale Gallery
booth #104
USA

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Language of coexistence, Art
The climax of art is not a destination but a journey
10th Geoje Internationale Art Festival

November 1- Dezember 25, 2024

341 artists from 56 countries are taking part in the exhibition at the Haegeumgang Theme Museum
in South Korea.

Haegeumgang Theme Museum
Yu Kyung Art Gallery 1-5
120 Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon,
Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do,
KR

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Horizonte - Faszination Landschaft
3. Nov. - 30. Nov. 2024

Sonja Kalb, Andreas Lutherer, Eva M. Mathes, Viktor Nono, Werner Pillig,
Carola Paschold, Bertamaria Reetz, Jürgen Reiners, Klaus Schnocks-Meusen,
Conrad Sevens, Michael Vogt, Sophie Voigt-Chadeyron, Herbert Zangs.

Opening on Sunday, 3. November 2024, 3 - 6pm

Opening hours
Wed. - Fri. 2 - 6pm
Sat. 11am - 3 pm
and by appointment

Galerie Heidefeld
Ostwall 64-66
47798 Krefeld
DE

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Kunstverein Duisburg
27 September - 27 October 2024

Die Natur, die Luft und die Zeit
Sonja Kalb - Martina Justus

Opening on Friday, 27 September 2024 at 7 pm
Welcome by Ralf Buchholz
Introduction by Elfi Zimmerling M.A. Art historian, State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia

on the following Sundays at 4 pm
29.09. Exhibition tour with Sonja Kalb and Martina Justus
05.10. Exhibition tour with Sonja Kalb
06.10. Signing session Sonja Kalb
13.10. Artist Talk Martina Justus
27.10. Artist Talk Sonja Kalb
Finissage 27.10. at 3 pm

Friday 17:00 to 19:00
Saturday 15:00 to 18:00
Sunday 15:00 to 18:00

Kunstverein Duisburg e.V.
Weidenweg 10
47059 Duisburg

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OpenArtCode Geneva
October 9 – October 19, 2024

Thursday, Opening October 9, 2024

Eva Beumer, David Harry, James Hayman, Sumio Inoue, Sonja Kalb,
Sara Palleria, Marco Aurelio Rey, Edward Rilke, Rachel Ruff, Wayne Stoner,
Enzo Trapani, Max Werner

Artrium Galerie
Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville
1204 Genf
CH

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Kunstpunkt 102
September 14, 2024 - Saterday 14-20:00
September 15, 2024 - Sunday 12-18:00

Kunstpunkt 102_Sonja Kalb
Wielandstr. 54
40211 Düsseldorf
DE

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Biennale Chianciano

Opening August 3, 2024 at 6pm - 9pm
August 3 – August 18, 2024

Opening Hours 6pm – 11pm

The 8th edition of the Chianciano Biennale presents 150 artists contemporary art in one of the most dynamic contemporary art competitions and celebrations in the world.

Museo d'Arte di Chianciano
Viale della Libertà, 280
53042 Chianciano Terme SI,
Italy

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Magic of Flowers
Sonja Kalb
Juni 15 – August 2024
Opening Juni 15, 2024

ARTE GLOBALE is thrilled to present the first solo show with the gallery of contemporary artist Sonja Kalb, Magic of Flowers. Contemporary paintings.
"Colour is a power which directly influences the soul." Wassily Kandinsky
Sonja’s paintings are a magical poem of colours, in the serene emotional beauty of a balmy garden at sunset and more. A musical orchestra of feelings where notes are shades of light and the hue of flowers.
"The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with base notes, or dark lake with the treble." Wassily Kandinsky

arteglobale

ARTE GLOBALE LIMITED

71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom

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Focus Art Fair
May 9th-12th, 2024

Arte Globale Gallery
Stand 218

Focus Art Fair
Chelsea Industrial
W 28th Street 535-551
10001 New York City
US

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OpenArtCode Barcelona
May 9 – May 23, 2024

Thursday, Opening May 9

Real Círculo Artístico de Barcelona
Carrer dels Arcs 5
08002 Barcelona
ES

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Beyond Landscape
Xianwei Zhu, Christoph Pöggeler, Sonja Kalb
7 March – 6 April 2024
Opening on 8 March 2024, 18:00

Galerie Kellermann
Heinrich-Heine-Allee 12
40212 Düsseldorf
DE

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LA Art Show
14 – 18 Februar 2024

Arte Globale Gallery
Booth 817

LA Convention Center, West Hall
1201 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90015
US

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Boundless Beauty
14–22 January 2024
Opening on Saturday, 13 January 2024, 17:30

Due uno Due Spazio Espositivo
Via Galliera, 2
40121 Bologna BO
IT

Works

Key Works

Polyptychs

Editions

Curriculum Vitae

Awards

2022	Voices of Tomorrow Art Award
2020	WAA Woman Art Award, Musa International Art Space in cooperation with UNESCO
2019	Special Mention for Excellence, London Art Biennial
2018	Best Abstract Artwork, Biennial Chianciano

Selected Exhibitions

2023	2023 Breezily Dreams Summer Exhibition, London, United Kingdom
2023	10 Jahre Galerie Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023	Organizing Chaos, Fondazione Matalon, Milan, IT
2023	Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023	Sicily Summer Art Expo,Ragusa Cathedral Museum, Ragusa, IT
2023	Inner Bloom, Monat Gallery, Madrid, SP
2023	Shape of Vision, Galleria Spazio 57, Naples, IT
2023	Open Art Code, Pinacoteca Comunale "Antonio Sapone", Contemporary Art Museum Gaeta, IT
2023	Alles Neu,Night of the Museums 2023, State Parliament NRW Düsseldorf, DE
2022	Open Art Code, Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, JP
2022	Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2022	Open Art Code, Grand Palais Ephémère, Paris, FR
2022	Sonja Kalb: Traumland, Ross31, Düsseldorf, DE
2022	Forgotten Realities,Gallery Monat, Madrid, SP
2021	We Contemporary Art Show, Raum Salmgasse, Vienna, AT
2020	Winterausstellung, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020	Art of Remediation, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
2020	Woman's Essence, Palazzo Velli, Rome, IT
2020	Sommer 20 – 20 Künstler, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020	Sonja Kalb, Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, DE
2019	We Contemporary Art Show, Topič Salon, Prague, CZ
2019	Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2019	Kunstverein Duisburg zu Gast im Kunstverein Landshut, Kunstverein Landshut, Landshut, DE
2019	London Art Biennial, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, UK
2019	Strukturen, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2018	Chianciano Biennial, Gagliardi Gallery, London, UK
2018	Expo Autumn, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018	Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018	Chianciano Biennial, Museo d'Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, IT
2017	Sonja Kalb: Abstrakte Malerei, Museum Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, DE
2017	Rainforest, Kunstverein Duisburg, Duisburg, DE
2016	Sonja Kalb: Poesie der Farben, Galerie Kellermann im Ballhaus im Nordpark, Düsseldorf, DE
2016	White Christmas, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, DE
2016	Encounters – Begegnungen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015	Abstract Dreams, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2015	Sonja Kalb: Emotion, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015	Color of Life, Galería Art Cuestion, Ourense, ES
2015	20 Jahre Galerie Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2013	Art for Peace for a better World, National Art Gallery of Izmir, Izmir, TR
2013	Full House, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Düsseldorf, DE
2012	Fulfilment, Gallery M-Mauersberger, Vienna, AT
2012	Sonja Kalb: Abstraktionen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2011	Woman Art, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010	Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010	Untitled, Galerie Anne Malchers, Bergisch Gladbach, DE
2009	Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE

Selected Fairs

2023	Aqua Art Miami, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
2023	Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City, USA
2022	International Art Fair Innsbruck, Olympiahalle Innsbruck, AT
2021	art3f. Salon international d'art contemporain, Brussels Expo, Brussels, BE
2018	art KARLSRUHE, Messe Karlsruhe, Rheinstetten, DE
2017	Montreux Art Gallery, Montreux Music & Convention Centre, Montreux, FR
2015	25. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
2014	1st International Contemporary Art Fair Iran, Qasr Garden Museum, Tehran, IR
2013	23. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
2012	Affordable Art Fair, La Pelanda, Rome, IT
2012	Art Beijing, Fangheng International Center, Beijing, CN
2011	Lineart 30, Flanders Expo, Ghent, BE

Selected Publications

Sonja Kalb, edited by Matthias Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, 2022
Interview with Sonja Kalb, edited by Marta Puig, Contemporary Art Curator, 2022
We Contemporary, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2021
John Austin, Unconstrained Paintings by Sonja Kalb, in Artery, 19 November 2020
Paul Zimmerman, Spotlight: Sonja Kalb, in Artery, 23 September 2020
Premio Combat 2020 Prize, edited by Paolo Batoni, Sillabe, 2020
Woman’s Essence UNESCO Edition, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2020
Premio Combat 2019 Prize, edited by Paolo Batoni, Sillabe, 2019
Sonja Kalb, edited by Matthias Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, 2019
Timothy Warrington, Sonja Kalb. Critical Analysis, International Confederation Art Critics, 2019
We Contemporary, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2019
Sonja Kalb. Emotion, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2015
International Contemporary Artists Volume V, edited by Olga Antoniadou, ICA Publishing, 2012
Sonja Kalb. Abstraktionen, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2012
International Contemporary Artists Volume IV, edited by Olga Antoniadou, ICA Publishing, 2012
Sonja Kalb, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2009

Selected Collections

Chianciano Museo D'Arte, Chianciano, IT
Yukyung Art Museum, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
Art Collection, Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, DE