Sofia Stijelja

Date of Birth: 30/07/1999

Email: sofiastijelja@btinternet.com

Phone number: 07860630434

Sofia Stijelja is a London based artist currently studying in Kingston upon Thames, previously in Norwich. Her current practice explores the relationship and between text and material, and the significance they both have in self-narration. Influenced by the Confessional movement, her work is situated around challenging spectatorship with legibility and personal poetry, merged with tactility from mostly domesticated objects. In an active attempt to remain ethical and sustainable, materials tend to consist of the natural and readymade.

​

Exhibitions

Stijelja exhibited her second year final piece via online Kingston School of Art, due to COVID-19. 

Stijelja exhibited her first year final piece as a group show in the gallery space at Norwich University of the Arts, 2019.

Stijelja has also exhibited within her residency at The Institute of Proposals, Kingston School of Art, 2020.

​

Curations

Stijelja has curated Youth Inspired’s All About Me student exhibition, Bedford, 2022, and The Basement’s Under the Bed, exhibition, Bedford, 2019.

​

Art sales 

Stijelja was a Sales advisor at The Art Centre and Gallery, Bedford, from 2018 - 2019.

​

Qualifications and Education

Stijelja has a pending BA Honours Degree in Fine Art from Kingston School of Art, 2020 - present; previously Norwich University of the Arts, 2019 - 2020.

Stijelja has achieved a Distinction Merit A-Level Equivalent in Fine Art from Bedford College, 2015 - 2017.

​​​

Post-graduate intention

During her graduate course Stijelja realised the importance of interactive art (specifically using textiles), leading her to pursue a career as an inclusive arts tutor at Youth Inspired Bedford; a local academic and leisure institution catering for young and vulnerable adults. Upon graduation she will be looking to encourage and extend the programme’s success, allowing the growth and accessibility of more students to experience the benefits of artistic expression and sensory activities whilst simultaneously developing each clients’ individual practice. 

This objective is widened by her ambitions of building a collective network advancing the availability of said programmes and workshops, allowing the ability to meet and connect with other local communities and artists near and far, creating possibility for education, collaboration, inspiration, business, tips, acknowledgement and referral. 

Stijelja’s undergraduate course has allowed the development of resilience, curiosity in experimentation and the enjoyment of collaboration yet simultaneously the quality and comfortability of independently working; beneficial in realising these ambitions. This objective will begin with finding a base for her artistic practice post-graduation, allowing a space to continue and progress, in which she will then pursue immersive public entry exhibitions to involve communities in more interactive projects in local and further parts of the world to help make societal changes, conscious of political and economical issues.

Stijelja boasts marketing, technical drawing and spatial understanding skills as well as IT experience such as Photoshop due to university and local exhibitions such as Under the Bed. She also offers over two years of customer service and sales experience; enabling the expansion of individual and professional growth of communication, aiding and working with others, financial familiarity and responsibility of designing and caring for spaces - beneficial for future curation and organisation of events and exhibitions.  

Exhibitions and residencies

Due to working for a month residency at the Institute of Proposals, Stijelja has gained valuable understanding of time, group and project management; producing a collaborative website exploring themes of eco-feminism, spiritual mysticism and spatial matters.

Herself and other local artists had curated garden exhibition Avant-Garden during July 2021 complete with social media advertisement and leaflets as a means to showcase work over the year, however this was put on hold due the past situation of COVID-19 and will possibly be realised this year.

Stijelja was also expecting to curate The Basement’s Under the Bed exhibition in 2020 however this has been on hold and dates are to be confirmed.

Dissemination of practice

Stijelja is exploring the most efficient ways of disseminating her artistic practice, which is currently publicised via url website and social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. These platforms are most widely accessible and adaptable sources of display and advertisement with free public access alongside space for individual interpretation and discussion, however she intends on expanding her career by creating an online and in-person market for sculptural items, prints and photo books. At her place of work, Stijelja is in the process of creating a selling space for herself and her clients, in which she will contain an artist card with every purchase allowing further publication.

Portfolio consisting of professional and programme work are available on request. 

Stijelja is in preparation for her final year show, however if you would like to propose a collaboration or a specific project, please do not hesitate to contact her.