In this monograph, Apolonia Sokol's visionary approach to the art of portraiture is presented. Through her figurative paintings, she combines portraiture and autofiction in scenes that both draw inspiration from art history and address current issues of feminism and queer identity. Sokol's works illuminate gender representation and body politics, depicting friends, lovers and partners as icons of radical subjectivity, bound together by alternative kinships that provide sustenance and support. Characterized by his distinct, expressive style and intense colors – created with natural pigments – Sokol's paintings often present the subject in a 1:1 scale, creating a confrontation between the eyes of the figures and the viewer's gaze. This invites reflection on identity and history and creates an experience of strength through vulnerability. In open, unusual spaces, the figures react dynamically to their surroundings, heightening the visual drama. Sokol also engages with art historical icons and themes such as birth, abortion and queer bodies. With a deep understanding of history and the present, Sokol seeks to reveal blind spots in the Western painting tradition. Apolonia Sokol, who graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris in 2015, has established herself as a significant voice in contemporary art with exhibitions at renowned institutions worldwide. With a passion for teaching, she also contributes to the development of future artists at the Fine Arts Academy of Caen. This monograph invites the reader into Sokol's universe and provides insight into how her art challenges, inspires and transforms our understanding of identity and representation. Foreword by Dorthe Juul Rugaard Text by Louise Steiwer

This book is published with with generous support from:

New Carlsberg Foundation, DK

Beckett-Fonden, DK

Grosserer L. F. Foghts Fond, DK

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Pages: 160

Illustrations: 101

Language: English

Size: 259x280x20mm

Design: Nicolai Bejder Studio

ISBN: 978-87-974-497-5-2

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