Sonja Kalb

Biography

Sonja Kalb

“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

  1. 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
Blooming Garden IV
The Light III
Blooming Garden
The Light
Blooming Garden II
White Magic of Flowers
Purple Mountains
Tropical Forest II
Magic of Flowers XII
Magic of Flowers III
Jungle
Nature Bathing III
Nature Bathing II
Magic of Flowers X
Secret Island
Lake III
Iceberg
Blue Mountains
Magic Flowers II
Cherry Blossoms
Green Emotion
Icescape II
Icescape III
Rainforest
Virgin Forest
Virgin Forest II
Dynamic Rhythm
Twilight
Polyptychs
Mountains and Sea
Traumland
Aquarius II
Nature Awakens
Rainforest III
Polar Light
Editions

Curriculum Vitae

Awards

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

Selected Exhibitions

2024Language of coexistence, Art, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
2024Horizonte - Faszination Landschaft, 30 Jahre Galerie Heidefeld Partner, Krefeld, DE
2024Die Natur, die Luft und die Zeit, Sonja Kalb und Martina Justus, Kunstverein Duisburg, Duisburg, DE
2024Open Art Code Geneva, Artrium Galerie, Geneva, CH
2024Sonja Kalb: Magic of Flowers, Gallery Arte Globale, London, GB
2024Biennale Chianciano, Museo d'Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, IT
2024Open Art Code, Real Círculo Artístico de Barcelona, Barcelona, SP
2024Beyond Landscape, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
20232023 Breezily Dreams Summer Exhibition, London, United Kingdom
202310 Jahre Galerie Kellermann, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023Organizing Chaos, Fondazione Matalon, Milan, IT
2023Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2023Shape of Vision, Galleria Spazio 57, Naples, IT
2023Open Art Code, Pinacoteca Comunale "Antonio Sapone", Contemporary Art Museum Gaeta, IT
2023Alles Neu,Night of the Museums 2023, State Parliament NRW Düsseldorf, DE
2022Open Art Code, Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, JP
2022Orange the World, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2022Open Art Code, Grand Palais Ephémère, Paris, FR
2022Sonja Kalb: Traumland, Ross31, Düsseldorf, DE
2021We Contemporary Art Show, Raum Salmgasse, Vienna, AT
2020Winterausstellung, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020Art of Remediation, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, Geoje, KR
2020Woman's Essence, Palazzo Velli, Rome, IT
2020Sommer 20 – 20 Künstler, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2020Sonja Kalb, Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, DE
2019We Contemporary Art Show, Topič Salon, Prague, CZ
2019Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2019Kunstverein Duisburg zu Gast im Kunstverein Landshut, Kunstverein Landshut, Landshut, DE
2019London Art Biennial, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, UK
2019Strukturen, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2018Chianciano Biennial, Gagliardi Gallery, London, UK
2018Expo Autumn, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2018Chianciano Biennial, Museo d'Arte di Chianciano, Chianciano Terme, IT
2017Sonja Kalb: Abstrakte Malerei, Museum Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, DE
2017Rainforest, Kunstverein Duisburg, Duisburg, DE
2016Sonja Kalb: Poesie der Farben, Galerie Kellermann im Ballhaus im Nordpark, Düsseldorf, DE
2016White Christmas, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, DE
2016Encounters – Begegnungen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015Abstract Dreams, Galerie Kellermann, Düsseldorf, DE
2015Sonja Kalb: Emotion, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2015Color of Life, Galería Art Cuestion, Ourense, ES
201520 Jahre Galerie Heidefeld, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2013Art for Peace for a better World, National Art Gallery of Izmir, Izmir, TR
2013Full House, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Düsseldorf, DE
2012Fulfilment, Gallery M-Mauersberger, Vienna, AT
2012Sonja Kalb: Abstraktionen, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2011Woman Art, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010Künstler der Galerie, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE
2010Untitled, Galerie Anne Malchers, Bergisch Gladbach, DE
2009Sonja Kalb, Galerie Heidefeld & Partner, Krefeld, DE

Selected Fairs

2024Aqua Art Miami, Florida, USA
2024Focus Art Fair, New York City, USA
2024LA Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
2023Aqua Art Miami, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
2023Affordable Art Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City, USA
2022International Art Fair Innsbruck, Olympiahalle Innsbruck, AT
2021art3f. Salon international d'art contemporain, Brussels Expo, Brussels, BE
2018art KARLSRUHE, Messe Karlsruhe, Rheinstetten, DE
2017Montreux Art Gallery, Montreux Music & Convention Centre, Montreux, FR
201525. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
20141st International Contemporary Art Fair Iran, Qasr Garden Museum, Tehran, IR
201323. Kunstmesse, Frauenmuseum, Bonn, DE
2012Affordable Art Fair, La Pelanda, Rome, IT
2012Art Beijing, Fangheng International Center, Beijing, CN
2011Lineart 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