Amelia Sonnekus is a visual artist living in leafy Perth Hills, Western Australia. She acquired a Bachelors of Fine Arts (Information Design) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, subsequently working and lecturing in advertising and graphic design while freelancing as an illustrator. It was only after immigrating and bringing up her four boys that she started pursuing a full time career as visual artist.

Her graphic design background influences her work, but it is the subliminal and expressive mark making and layering that distinguishes it. Squiggles, scratches, random elements, lines and shapes are present in both her physical and digital work, regardless of it being a painting, illustration or collage. Sometimes hand stitching or machine embroidery further enrich her layered visual exploration of neurodiversity, emotions, environment, faith, connections and a life lived “less orderly”.

QUALIFICATIONS

2024 CUADIG415 iPad Drawing Skill Set, North Metropolitan TAFE

2017 Diploma of Community Services, North Metropolitan TAFE

1992 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Information Design), University of Pretoria  

AWARDS

1989 University of Pretoria, Arts and Culture Awards - 1st Prize, Fine Arts Category

1990 First Paper House Art of Design - Biennial National Design Awards - 1st Prize, Student Category

1992 First Paper House Art of Design - Biennial National Design Awards – 2nd Prize, Student Category

EXHIBITIONS

2024 Darlington Arts Festival - Open Art, Darlington

2023 Darlington Arts Festival - Open Art, Darlington

2023 Face to Face - Ellis House

2023 Gosnells Community Art Awards

2022 Darlington Arts Festival - Open Art, Darlington

2022 Ellis House Members Spring Exhibition

2021 Bayswater Community Art Awards

2021 Darlington Arts Festival - Open Art, Darlington

2021 The Second Best Time Is Now – Mundaring Arts Centre

2020 Darlington Arts Festival – Invitation Only

2020 Stories From Home - Mundaring Art Centre

2019 Place and Space - Acquisition Exhibition, Mundaring Art Centre

2018 Darlington Arts Festival - Open Art, Darlington

2018 In Full Bloom - Midland Junction Art Centre, City of Swan

2013 Celebrating Women - Fossick Handmade, Kalgoorlie

COLLABORATIONS & MORE

2024 One of three judges for an "Open Call" NFT competition on HUG (.ART)

2021-22 Art Journal projects with peers, Jane Button, Louise Cook and Marie Haass,

2017 Collaborated with Paul Sonnekus, creating sculptures:

‘Only Time Will Tell’, Ellenbrook Open Art Award Exhibition

‘Mad Magpie’, exhibited and sold at Nest Gallery, Darlington.

2012 Kalgoorlie Race Round Community Art Project: Painted Umbrellas