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Education
BFA in Printmaking Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
I eat the stars, installation on Project wall at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
2019
Loud Magic, whitespace gallery, Atlanta, GA
One Hundred Blossoms and the Sweetest Scent, site specific installation on project wall, Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw, GA
2003
Shedspace series, Site specific installation in Inman Park, Atlanta, GA
Aggregate: sculptures, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
Entwined: Ritual Wrapping and Binding in Contemporary Southern Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA
Welcome Home: The Liminal Asianx Appalachian Experience, East Tennessee State University, Slocum Gallery, Johnson City, TN
2020
She is Here, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA
2019
PROJECT, curated by Scott Ingram, Temporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA
Noface Land, collaboration with Jiha Moon, Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN
The December Show, whitespace gallery, Atlanta, GA
Entanglements. Laney Contemporary Savannah, GA
Forward Arts Foundation Finalist Award Show. Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Shebang. The Corn Center for the Visual Arts, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
I am both: a two person exhibit with Trevor Reese, Chastain Art Center, Atlanta, GA
2018
Biophilia of Life, Carnegie Center for Art and History, New Albany, IN
The December Show, whitespace gallery, Atlanta, GA
2017
The Summer Swan Invitational, Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Gathered: Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
2016
These Things Are Tangible, Gallery of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
2015
Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and the New Edge, (traveling) Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, MI, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI
Touched: Soft Sculpture, Ground Floor Gallery, Nashville, TN
2014
New Fibers: A national survey of contemporary fiber art, Eastern Michigan University Gallery, Ypsilanti, MI
Repetition & Ritual: New Sculpture in Fiber, The Project Space – Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
2013
Repetition & Ritual: New Sculpture in Fiber, The Hudgens Center for the Arts, Duluth, GA
2012
Fibers, Morgan Culture Center, Madison, GA
Zen Dixie: a group exhibition, curated by John Otte, Driver – Phillips Studio, Atlanta, GA
2011
Extraordinary Things: 2011 Chattahoochee Biennial of Textiles, The Art Institute of Atlanta, Decatur Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Seamless: a group exhibition with Glen Kaufman, Junco Sato Pollack, and Clay McLaurin, One Twelve Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009
Fiber and Wood, Pocosin Arts Folk School and Gallery, Columbia, NC
2004
Tender Landscape: artists respond to human involvement in the natural world, Dalton Gallery, Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, GA
2003
Res Secundae: the Best of the Biennial, Albany Museum of Art, Albany, GA
2002
Small Works”. Nexus Gallery, New York, NY
2001
Georgia/Alabama Biennial, Albany Museum of Art, Albany, GA
Japonisme: Asian Inspirations, Target Gallery Alexandria, VA
2000
Layers Into Light, a 4 person exhibition of paintings, constructions, and book arts. Eyedrum Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2000 Defining Vessels, All media national juried exhibition. Chico Arts Center – Chico, CA
1998
Day of the Dead, Fine Art Center en Taos, Taos, NM
Booked: Contemporary Artist Books, Art Academy of Cincinnati Chidlaw Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
1997
Print and Sculpture Show: Recent Works from the Printers Workshop, Georgia State University School of Art and Design Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1992
The Paradise Show: Benefit for I.M.A.G.E. Film and Video, Atlanta Stage Works, Atlanta, GA
1990
Pathological Conditions, New Visions Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Curatorial Experience
2014
Repetition & Ritual: New Sculpture in Fiber, The Project Space, Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
2013
Repetition & Ritual: New Sculpture in Fiber, The Hudgens Center for the Arts, Duluth, GA
Awards & Residencies
2021
Idea Capital Antinori grant
2020
ARTADIA award
2018
Sterne Scholarship for Printmaking, Atlanta Printmakers Studio
Emerging Artist Award Finalist, Forward Arts Foundation
2019
Atlanta Contemporary Art Center Studio Artist Residency Program
2017
Juror’s Award, Gathered: Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia
2016
Studio Artist Residency Program, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
Arrowmont Pentaculum Residency Invitational, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
2014
New Fibers Award of Merit, Eastern Michigan University Gallery
2011
Elena Prentice Scholarship, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
Handweavers Guild Of America Award of Excellence
2010
Award of Excellence in Fiber, American Craft Council Show
2008
Teacher assistantship scholarship, Penland School of Craft
1999
Marion Bowen Davis Scholarship
1998
The GSU Reward
1997
Cassandra B. Walker Award
Reviews & Publications
“At Chastain Arts Gallery, Puzzling, Rewarding I am Both Digs into Dualities.” Cullum, Jerry. ArtsAtl.org, February 7, 2019
“The Fibers of her Being: Textile Artist, Sonya Yong James celebrates the cycle of life”. Ledoux, Jeanne, Uppercase, January 2018, pg 79-83.
“Fine Art Exporter”. Ledoux, Jeanee The Atlantan, September, 2017, pg 62.
“A studio conversation with Sonya Yong James”. Nelson-Daniel, Anna ArtsAtl, August 23, 2017.
“Gathered III makes for a rich experience, conservative in tone”. Brantley, Rebecca, ArtsAtl, June 27, 2017.
“Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and the New Edge”. Martin, Art Fiber Art Now, Fall 2015, pg 10-12.
The Craft Companion. Barry, Ramona & Rebecca Jobson Thames & Hudson, Australia November 2015, pg 118.
“A fresh take on fiber art at Minnesota Museum of American Art’s Project Space”. Chouweiler, Susannah, Knight Arts Foundation, January 6, 2014.
“Year in Review: Notable exhibitions, works of art and experiences of 2013”. Cullum, Jerry, ArtsAtl, January 1, 2014.
“In Review: Repetition and Ritual: New Sculpture in Fiber”. Hansell, Sally, Surface Design Journal, Fall 2013, pg 60-61.
“Review: In Hudgens fiber show, loveliness and pleasing unease”. Cullum, Jerry, ArtsAtl, May 17, 2013.
“Review: Repetition and Ritual at the Hudgens Center”. Rich, Leisa, Burnaway, May 30, 2013.
500 Felt Objects: Creative Explorations of a Remarkable Material, Lark Books, Sterling Publishing Company, New York, New York, 2011, p. 297.
“Sculpture of self – effacing power”. Cullum, Jerry, Atlanta Journal Constitution, , March 14, 2003, p. Q6
“Exploring Light and Bugs”. Cullum, Jerry Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 25, 2000, p.Q8
Collections
Art In Embassies, Permanent Collection of the US Embassy, Nouakchott, Mauritania, US Department of State, May 2017
King & Spalding, LLC, Private collections