When Sofia Bonati debuted her illustrative paintings with Sager Reeves Gallery in 2017, they were so instantly beloved that they nearly sold out by the end of the opening reception. This winter she returns with a new cast of subjects, bringing the same soft graphite rendering combined with pattern-heavy painting that earned her so much acclaim, both as a studio artist and a professional illustrator. Her female subjects are strong and central, each conveying a character and seeming to carry her own subtle sense of narrative. Flattened, decorative backgrounds echo the power and personality of the figure but grant her the focus, reinforcing her centrality.
