Sonia Queija

Sonia Queija (Orléans, 1974) is a French sculptor trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and in the studio of Bolivian artist M. Terrazas, a student of Ossip Zadkine. Thanks to her strong academic background, she is capable of creating refined and powerful works that combine technical mastery with poetic sensitivity. Her commissions include projects for major French institutions such as the Musée Grévin, the Musée de l’Homme, and the Ministries of Defence and Justice, as well as collaborations in cinema and fashion. Alongside these projects, Queija has developed a deeply personal practice that focuses on contemplative, introspective figures, captured in moments of pause, reflection, and silent presence. Her style merges figurative faces and hands with increasingly architectural and essential bodies, striking a balance between figuration and abstraction. Among her most significant series: • Voyageurs – travelers suspended between departure and arrival, inspired by a journey to Korea that left her with a sense of calm and inner stillness. This experience led her to portray travelers with Asian features and Korean inscriptions on their luggage (Seoul and Busan), symbols of movement, identity, and introspection. • Couples – figures that explore emotional connection and fusion. • Travailleurs and Pauses – bodies poised between labor, endurance, and inner intimacy. Technically, Queija works in bronze using the lost-wax casting method (8 editions + 4 artist proofs). She favors light patinas to catch and reflect light, while touches of golden bronze highlight lines and contours, adding movement, life, and sensitivity to her sculptures. Sonia Queija’s works stand out for their ability to translate intimate, universal moments into sculpture; contemporary, timeless, and deeply human.