Sonia Gomes (b. 1948, Caetanópolis, Brazil) is a Brazilian artist who lives and works in São Paulo. She developed her practice outside formal academic training, drawing on personal experience and material knowledge rooted in everyday life. Before dedicating herself fully to art, Gomes worked in various professional contexts, including the textile and fashion industries, which continue to shape her approach to material and construction.
Working primarily with textiles, Gomes creates sculptural assemblages from discarded fabrics, clothing and found objects. Her process is based on collecting, cutting, tying and stitching materials, often without preliminary sketches; which allows forms to emerge through direct engagement. While her practice engages with traditions of craft, she repositions these techniques within a contemporary sculptural context.
Gomes’ work is shaped by personal memory, cultural heritage and broader histories of labor and material circulation in Brazil. The use of worn and repurposed fabrics carries traces of previous lives, embedding her works with narrative and emotional resonance. Without adhering to a fixed iconography, her practice explores themes of transformation, resilience and the relationship between body, material and space.
Her work has been presented in major international exhibitions, including the 56th Venice Biennale (2015) and the 57th Venice Biennale (2017). She has held solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) and has participated in group exhibitions at institutions including the Pinacoteca de São Paulo and international museums and foundations. Her work is held in significant public and private collections, contributing to her recognition as a key figure in contemporary Brazilian art.