Championed Artist
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Overview
Throughout her practice, Vallance Cantor creates worlds that express the inner workings of her mind by blurring the line between reality and imagination.
Sophie Vallance Cantor creates worlds that express the inner workings of her mind by blurring the line between reality and imagination. Her paintings invite viewers to see the world through her eyes: where bright neon signs light up dark alleyways and domestic cats transform into wild beasts in 24-hour bars and cafés. Each painting reads like a still from a film; characters look at the viewer with a sense of cool detachment as they ride motorcycles down infinite highways, smoke cigarettes and drink extravagant cocktails.
Amidst the narrative of her paintings there often lies a sense of stillness. Each small moment is immortalised and savoured through thick, luscious strokes of oil paint that exude a palpable sense of joy and pleasure in the creation process. Vallance Cantor’s figures are depicted with strong, bold shapes and her use of vivid colours invites the viewer to relish in the pleasures of her practice. There is a certain sense of playfulness and mischievous delight that permeates all of Vallance Cantor’s work.
In a broader context, Vallance's art serves as a counterbalance to her experiences as a neurodivergent individual, with her self-portraits constantly evolving and conversing with each other on the canvas. Although viewers are welcomed into her world, they are still kept at arm's length, like outsiders looking in on a private moment.
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Works
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Biography
Courtesy of Brynley Odu Davies
B. 1993, Scotland , Based in London, UK.
Education
2013-2015 Painting Camberwell College of Arts
2011-2012 Foundation in Art and Design CCW Progression Centre
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Upcoming Guts Gallery, London
2023 Burnout, NBB Gallery, Berlin
2023 Ride or Die, Galerie Fran Reus, Palma
2022 Tiger Stripes and Smoke, Guts Gallery, London
2021 Bad at Life (Good at Painting), Guts Gallery, London
2020 Peeka-Fuckin-Boo Guts Gallery, London
2020 Even Tigers Need a Rest, Aleph Contemporary, London
Art Fairs
2023 Yusto Giner, KIAF Seoul
2023 Everyday Mooonday, KIAF Seoul
2023 Galeria Fran Reus, KIAF Seoul
2023 Yusto Giner, ZONAMACO Art Fair, Mexico City
Group Exhibitions
2023 Upcoming Sens Gallery, Hong Kong
2023 NEW NOW: Part 1, Guts Gallery, London
2023 UNI[2]ON, Union Gallery, London, UK
2023 Meeting Point, Galerie Slika, Lyon, France
2022 Even a Cat Can Look at the Queen, Mrs, New York, US
2022 Grassroots, JVDW, Düsseldorf
2022 Jerry Gagosian’s Suggested Followers: How the Algorithm is Always Right, Sotheby's New York
2022 Bag, Pedestal, Rabbit, Potato, Staffordshire Street, London
2021 Strike Me a Pose, Galerie Fran Reus, Mallorca, Spain
2021 Achy Breaky Heart, NBB Gallery, Berlin
2021 Unsellable, Just a Studio, London
2021 Reality Check, Guts Gallery, London
2021 All Together Now, Big Yin Gallery, St Leonards on Sea
2021 Tiger in a Tropical Storm, Louise Alexander Gallery, Italy
2021 (Re) Birth of Venus, Pulpo Gallery, Munich
2021 A New Art World, Guts Gallery, London
2021 Introducing, Guts Gallery at Sadie Coles
2021 Now, Now, Breach, Miami, USA
2021 Holding Hands, Union Gallery, London
2021 Safe as Milk, Arusha Gallery, Edinburgh
2021 Back to Back, Bowes Parris, London
2020 NBB Paperworks Vol 1, Berlin, Germany
2020 Original Paper, Wilder Gallery, London
2020 Curated for Christmas, Bowes Parris Gallery x All Mouth Gallery, London
2020 Pending, San Mei Gallery, London
2020 Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries London
2020 LIMBO, Everyday Gallery, Antwerp
2020 The Just, Aleph Contemporary, London
2020 Begin Again, Guts Gallery, London
2020 Antifreeze, Bowes Parris Gallery, London
2020 When Shit Hits The Fan, GUTS Gallery, London
2019 Opening Exhibition, GUTS Gallery, London
2019 Let Me Try to Explain, L21 Gallery, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
2019 Manifest The Future, Castiglioni, São Paulo, Brazil
2019 Salad Days, YNGSPC Online Exhibition
2018 Predatory Behaviour, T293, Rome, Italy
2018 Her Presence is Fuel, Mo Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2018 Slightly Seared on The Reality Grill, Unit 5 Gallery, London
2017 Young Contemporary Talent Exhibition, Ingram Collection, London
2017 PC4PC, 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, London
2015 One Potato, Two, Arch Collective, London
2015 24 Hour Project, GX Gallery, London
2015 UNIT, CGP/ Cafe Gallery, London
2012 CCW Foundation Show, CCW Progression Centre, London
2012 RBA and NADFAS Annual Show, Mall Galleries, London
Duo Exhibitions
2021 Achy Breaky Heart, NBB Gallery, Berlin
2021 Sophie Vallance x Banal, Galerie Tracanelli, Grenoble
2019 Sophie Vallance X David Esquivel, Galerie Tracanelli, Grenoble, France
2018 They Said I Was Special, Union Gallery, London
2018 H E R U S, Berlin, Germany
2017 Mine, Others and Yours, We are BUD, Athens, Greece
Residencies and Awards
2019 L21 Gallery Residency, Spain
2017 Young Contemporary Talent Prize, Ingram Collection (Finalist)
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Contact Form
Send me more information on Sophie Vallance Cantor
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Exhibitions
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NEW NOW
Co-curated by Ell Pennick and Brynley Odu Davies 1 Dec 2023 - 6 Feb 2024Read more -
Tiger Stripes and Smoke
7 - 28 Jul 2022‘Tiger Stripes and Smoke’ is the latest body of work from Sophie Vallance Cantor. In this collection of paintings, Vallance has pushed - and been pushed - further, both mentally...Read more -
Sophie Vallance Cantor
BAD AT LIFE (GOOD AT PAINTING) 4 - 10 Nov 2021‘BAD AT LIFE (GOOD AT PAINTING)’ is the second solo exhibition by Sophie Vallance Cantor with Guts Gallery. OPENING NIGHT - 4 NOV 2021 6 - 9 PM GENERAL OPENING...Read more -
REALITY CHECK
23 Sep - 3 Oct 2021Opening: Thur 23 Sept 6-9pm Exhibition Location: Anderson Contemporary, Carpenter’s Wharf Studios, 4b Roach Road, London E3 2PA Via Monier Road Footbridge Regular Opening Hours: Wed - Sun 11-6pm Guts...Read more -
A NEW ART WORLD
A NEW ART WORLD IS POSSIBLE. 22 - 29 Jul 2021Private View: Thursday 22 July 6-9pm Opening Hours: Tues - Sun 11am - 6pm Location: 147 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 0NY No RSVP's required BUY THE MANIFESTO PRINT...Read more -
INTRODUCING
London Gallery Weekend at The Shop at Sadie Coles HQ 4 - 6 Jun 2021London Gallery Weekend 4-6 June 2021 11am - 8pm (Opening day) 11am - 6pm (Regular hours) The Shop at Sadie Coles HQ, 62 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QN Directions...Read more
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Press
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A Dream Within A Dream @ Haricot Gallery
Nabila Bulbul, Made In Bed Magazine, 3 Feb 2024 -
London Art Fair 2024 Interviews
Sophie Vallance CantorJamie Hope , Guts Gallery, 16 Jan 2024 -
Sophie Vallance Cantor: Drenched in Neon
Rubén Palma, THE OVERSTANDARD, 28 Dec 2023 -
Curators’ Picks: Emerging
Casey Lesser, Artsy, 31 Mar 2023 -
Sophie Vallance Cantor – Studio Visit
Callum Crawford, Goldmark Atelier, 23 Mar 2023 -
GUTS 2022 CLOSING EXHIBITION IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN IRAN
Mark Westall, FAD Magazine, 15 Dec 2022 -
An Exhibition of Cat Art Worthy of a Meowseum
Elaine Velie, Hyperallergic, 12 Dec 2022 -
Social-Media Star ‘Jerry Gogosian’ Curated a Sotheby’s Sale Based Entirely on Instagram’s Algorithmic Suggestions
Dorian Batycka, Art Net, 21 Sep 2022 -
Hilde Lynn Helphenstein Wants to Be the Art World’s Anthony Bourdain
Stephanie Eckardt, W Magazine , 20 Sep 2022 -
In the studio with Sophie Vallance Cantor
Alex Leav, émergent Magazine -
FAD Magazine feature Guts latest exhibition REALITY CHECK
Mark Westall , FAD Magazine , 23 Sep 2021 -
DAZED features latest Guts exhibition, REALITY CHECK
Emily Dinsdale, DAZED, 21 Sep 2021 -
Guts Gallery featured in The New York Times 'Gallery Weekend Brings London's Art Scene Back to Life '
Scott Reyburn, The New York Times , 7 Jun 2021 -
ELEPHANT FEATURES SOPHIE VALLANCE AND OLIVIA STERLING
Madeleine Pollard , ELEPHANT , 2 Apr 2021 -
Top Ten Shows from the UK and Ireland
Mimi Chu, Frieze, 12 Feb 2021 -
Artist Interview | Sophie Vallance Cantor
Josh Price, GowithYamo, 10 Jun 2020 -
SOPHIE AND DOUGLAS CANTOR. A catalyser of thoughts and experiences.
MARTIN MAYORGA, DATEAGLE ART, 24 Jul 2018 -
Sophie Vallance Interview on FLOORR MAGAZINE
Stephen Feather, Floorr Magazine, 10 Jul 2018 -
sophie vallance cantor’s cat paintings explore anxiety and empowerment
Alice Newell-Hanson, i-D Magazine, 25 Aug 2017 -
TO SKIN A CAT: IN CONVERSATION WITH SOPHIE VALLANCE CANTOR
Layla Leiman, ARTMAZE Magazine -
ON VIEW BY FLASH ART: “It’s 2020 For F*ck Sake” Guts Gallery and Soft Punk / London
Flash Art , 11 Dec 2020 -
IT’S 2020 FOR F*CK SAKE
ART PLUGGED, ART PLUGGED, 30 Sep 2020 -
The London art you can take a virtual tour of right now for free
Lucy Scovell, The Glossary, 29 Mar 2020 -
Explore south east London’s underground art galleries
Phoebe Gardner, Wallpaper, 21 Feb 2020 -
GUTS GALLERY TO OPEN IN LONDON NEXT WEEK PROVIDING SPACE AND EXPOSURE FOR BAME ARTISTS, FEMALE ARTISTS, WORKING-CLASS AR
Mark Westall, FAD Magazine, 10 May 2019 -
This Instagram-only exhibition is full of London’s best young artists
Eddy Frankel, Time Out London, 24 Mar 2020 -
Begin Again: The online exhibition challenging austerity and racial oppression
Scarlett Baker , Love Magazine, 13 Aug 2020 -
Scrap that, lets begin again
TJ Sidhu, The Face, 13 Aug 2020 -
Ten's to see 'When Shit Hits the Fan', The insta-exhibition by Guts Gallery
Paul Toner, 10 Magazine, 2 Apr 2020 -
Art markets find high-tech ways to reach buyers
Melanie Gerlis, Financial Times, 27 Mar 2020 -
When Shit Hits the Fan (In the Artworld)
TJ Sidhu, The Face, 27 Mar 2020 -
Guts Gallery present ‘When shit hits the fan’ a digital Instagram exhibition
Mark Westall, Fad Magazine, 23 Mar 2020 -
Begin Again is the virtual art exhibition tackling racial inequality
Gunseli Yalcinkaya, Dazed , 14 Aug 2020
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