Sonja Kalb

Biography

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”

Wassily Kandinsky

Short Biography

The love of art and the need to express myself through colours and compositions have always accompanied me. Photographs, nature drawings, nude and portrait painting developed while training as a textile and design engineer have helped me develop a handwriting that is as precise artistically as it is sound on an artisanal level. Like many artists of the 20th and 21st century, I have turned from figurative painting first to collage and then to abstraction.

I reduce to the essential: shapes and the substance of colours. My means of expression are surface structures and textures, strong contrasts, at times expressive colour choices and play with colour surfaces that partly conceal, partly reveal what lies beneath. In order for the complexity and optical depth of the paintings to become perceptible, parts of the canvas remain open. To apply layers, I use paintbrushes and palette knives, oil crayons, pencil and pigments.

Travelling is my source of inspiration: I am guided by memories of a place’s colours, its nature, particular patterns of light and shadow. My artistic practice is a painted response to the disrespect of the environment and the fast pace of the increasingly digitalized world; an expression of my desire that we develop respect for the surrounding world and that we recognize the urgency of a sustainable protection of nature. The paintings’ titles refer to those sources of inspiration, subject areas and concerns. More importantly, though, my colour worlds are meant to invite viewers to go on a sensuous journey of discovery and to inspire thoughts and ideas of their own.

Sonja Kalb, 2021

Current & Upcoming

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Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
25 years VdDK

Opening, 14 March, 6 - 10 pm
Speeches from 19:30

15 March - 25 May 2025

This exhibition is not a retrospective of 181 years of the association's history, but a survey of the current work of VdDK members. It shows their current work and looks ahead to future artistic endeavours. Positions from all artistic genres are presented: Painting, graphic art, sculpture, photography and media art.
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 11am-6pm
Public holidays 11am-6pm

Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
Grabbeplatz 4
40211 Düsseldorf

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Florence

Laurence Armstrong, William Braemer, Brett Cimino, Antonio Díaz Gracia, Jordan Donnelly, David Gildersleeve,
David Harry, Sonja Kalb, Sara Palleria, Etienne Pierart, Marco Aurèlio Rey, Linda Stella, Karl Stengel, Wayne Stoner

Opening on 15 April at 18:00h

April - 9. May 2025

Palazzo Rosselli del Turco
Via dei Serragli 17
Florence
IT

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SPRING 25

Bardula, Joseph Beuys, Robbert de Goede, Bernd C. Dietrich, Rupprecht Geiger, Kurt Grimm, Sonja Kalb, Markus Lüpertz, Yoshiyuki Miura, Sascha Nordmeyer, Pablo Picasso, Otto Piene, Gerhard Richter, Bernd Schwarzer, Reiner Seliger, Günther Uecker, Victor Vasarely, Andy Warhol

March 21, 2025 - April 19, 2025

Spring Awakening at the Kellermann Gallery

Exhibition opening: Friday, 21 March from 11 am

We look forward to your visit.

Opening hours:
Tue - Fri 11-13 and 15-18:30, Sat 11-16

Galerie Kellermann
Cheruskerstr. 105
40545 Düsseldorf
DE

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

We cordially invite you to our New Year's exhibition with new works and highlights by
Joseph Beuys, Robbert de Goede, Bernd C. Dietrich, Irina and Marina Fabrizius, Sonja Kalb, Fabian Pfleger, Christoph Pöggeler, Reiner Seliger

10 - 31 January 2025
Opening: Friday, 10 January, 5 - 7 pm

Galerie Kellermann
Cheruskerstr. 105
40545 Düsseldorf

Works

Key Works

Polyptychs

Editions

Curriculum Vitae

Awards

2024	Encouragement Award, 10th International Art Festival, Int. Culture & Arte Federation, South Korea
2022	Voices of Tomorrow Art Award
2020	WAA Woman Art Award, Musa International Art Space in cooperation with UNESCO
2019	Special Mention for Excellence, London Art Biennial
2018	Best Abstract Artwork, Biennial Chianciano

Selected Exhibitions

2024	Language of coexistence, Art, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
2024	Horizonte - Faszination Landschaft, 30 Jahre Galerie Heidefeld Partner, Krefeld, DE
2024	Die Natur, die Luft und die Zeit, Sonja Kalb und Martina Justus, Kunstverein Duisburg, Duisburg, DE
2024	Open Art Code Geneva, Artrium Galerie, Geneva, CH
2024	Sonja Kalb: Magic of Flowers, Gallery Arte Globale, London, GB
2024	Biennale Chianciano, Museo d'Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, IT
2024	Open Art Code, Real Círculo Artístico de Barcelona, Barcelona, SP
2024	Beyond Landscape, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023	2023 Breezily Dreams Summer Exhibition, London, United Kingdom
2023	10 Jahre Galerie Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023	Organizing Chaos, Fondazione Matalon, Milan, IT
2023	Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023	Shape of Vision, Galleria Spazio 57, Naples, IT
2023	Open Art Code, Pinacoteca Comunale "Antonio Sapone", Contemporary Art Museum Gaeta, IT
2023	Alles Neu,Night of the Museums 2023, State Parliament NRW Düsseldorf, DE
2022	Open Art Code, Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, JP
2022	Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2022	Open Art Code, Grand Palais Ephémère, Paris, FR
2022	Sonja Kalb: Traumland, Ross31, Düsseldorf, DE
2021	We Contemporary Art Show, Raum Salmgasse, Vienna, AT
2020	Winterausstellung, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020	Art of Remediation, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
2020	Woman's Essence, Palazzo Velli, Rome, IT
2020	Sommer 20 – 20 Künstler, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020	Sonja Kalb, Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, DE
2019	We Contemporary Art Show, Topič Salon, Prague, CZ
2019	Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2019	Kunstverein Duisburg zu Gast im Kunstverein Landshut, Kunstverein Landshut, Landshut, DE
2019	London Art Biennial, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, UK
2019	Strukturen, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2018	Chianciano Biennial, Gagliardi Gallery, London, UK
2018	Expo Autumn, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018	Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018	Chianciano Biennial, Museo d'Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, IT
2017	Sonja Kalb: Abstrakte Malerei, Museum Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, DE
2017	Rainforest, Kunstverein Duisburg, Duisburg, DE
2016	Sonja Kalb: Poesie der Farben, Galerie Kellermann im Ballhaus im Nordpark, Düsseldorf, DE
2016	White Christmas, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, DE
2016	Encounters – Begegnungen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015	Abstract Dreams, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2015	Sonja Kalb: Emotion, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015	Color of Life, Galería Art Cuestion, Ourense, ES
2015	20 Jahre Galerie Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2013	Art for Peace for a better World, National Art Gallery of Izmir, Izmir, TR
2013	Full House, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Düsseldorf, DE
2012	Fulfilment, Gallery M-Mauersberger, Vienna, AT
2012	Sonja Kalb: Abstraktionen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2011	Woman Art, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010	Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010	Untitled, Galerie Anne Malchers, Bergisch Gladbach, DE
2009	Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE

Selected Fairs

2024	Aqua Art Miami, Florida, USA
2024	Focus Art Fair, New York City, USA
2024	LA Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
2023	Aqua Art Miami, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
2023	Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City, USA
2022	International Art Fair Innsbruck, Olympiahalle Innsbruck, AT
2021	art3f. Salon international d'art contemporain, Brussels Expo, Brussels, BE
2018	art KARLSRUHE, Messe Karlsruhe, Rheinstetten, DE
2017	Montreux Art Gallery, Montreux Music & Convention Centre, Montreux, FR
2015	25. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
2014	1st International Contemporary Art Fair Iran, Qasr Garden Museum, Tehran, IR
2013	23. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
2012	Affordable Art Fair, La Pelanda, Rome, IT
2012	Art Beijing, Fangheng International Center, Beijing, CN
2011	Lineart 30, Flanders Expo, Ghent, BE

Selected Publications

Sonja Kalb, edited by Matthias Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, 2022
Interview with Sonja Kalb, edited by Marta Puig, Contemporary Art Curator, 2022
We Contemporary, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2021
John Austin, Unconstrained Paintings by Sonja Kalb, in Artery, 19 November 2020
Paul Zimmerman, Spotlight: Sonja Kalb, in Artery, 23 September 2020
Premio Combat 2020 Prize, edited by Paolo Batoni, Sillabe, 2020
Woman’s Essence UNESCO Edition, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2020
Premio Combat 2019 Prize, edited by Paolo Batoni, Sillabe, 2019
Sonja Kalb, edited by Matthias Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, 2019
Timothy Warrington, Sonja Kalb. Critical Analysis, International Confederation Art Critics, 2019
We Contemporary, edited by Musa International Art Space, Serradifalco Editore, 2019
Sonja Kalb. Emotion, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2015
International Contemporary Artists Volume V, edited by Olga Antoniadou, ICA Publishing, 2012
Sonja Kalb. Abstraktionen, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2012
International Contemporary Artists Volume IV, edited by Olga Antoniadou, ICA Publishing, 2012
Sonja Kalb, edited by Egon Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, 2009

Selected Collections

Chianciano Museo D'Arte, Chianciano, IT
Yukyung Art Museum, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
Art Collection, Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, DE