ABOUT

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Cathryn Sofarnos is a multi-disciplinary abstract artist based in Melbourne, Australia.  Born in Hobart, Tasmania she enjoyed a free range childhood roaming  the untamed wilderness of her Tasmanian backyard.  Endless hours were  spent exploring  empty windswept  beaches, investigating rock pools and  leaving marks in the sand, and the deep impressions of the child's mind, has provided a solid foundation for Cathryn's work today.  

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Along with a deep interest in dimensional ontology and the metaphysical layers of our perception, Cathryn’s work delves into the interplay between abstract form and the dimensional nature of colour , line and pattern.  Through abstraction, Cathryn's work captures the emotional and metaphysical essence of place—translating memory, atmosphere, and sensory experience into layered compositions of colour, texture, and form. By embracing the fluidity and ambiguity of abstraction, she invites the  viewer to contemplate the interconnectedness of multiple dimension and its potential influence on the perception of our existence . Her dynamic expression of line and colour, sets the intention to captivate a glimpse into the multifaceted nature of our world, creating a vivid and evocative experience on a large scale.

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Studio time is deeply rooted in experimentation—an open-ended process of exploring endless colour palettes and material combinations. Much of this creative investigation takes place through smaller works on paper, with the  use of crayon, paint pens, collage, and charcoal to test ideas. These studies are far from casual; they serve as essential stepping stones, allowing for  considered composition, colour harmony, and material interaction before committing to a large-scale canvas.

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Energy, movement, and emotion are central to the work. Cathryn loves working on a large scale, as it allows her to physically engage with each painting—making bold marks and expressive gestures that bring energy and movement to the surface. She works with a mixture of oil paint, oil sticks, acrylic, and spray paint, using their unique properties to build layers, reveal textures, and evoke a rich sense of depth. Oil sticks, in particular, are a favoured material in her practice, offering a raw, tactile experience that aligns more closely with drawing than traditional brushwork. This hands-on approach enables a direct and intuitive connection between artist and surface.

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Her practice also extends into textiles where she creates one-of-a-kind art to wear pieces that  feature digital prints of her paintings. This extension of her practice allows for exploration of the materiality and storytelling in a tactile, intimate way, blurring the line between visual art and functional form.

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Cathryn's artistic vision centres on the creation of cohesive, concept-driven bodies of work. Drawn to working in series, she develops collections of paintings and textile works that explore central themes with depth, sensitivity, and a strong emotional undercurrent.

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She has presented several fully realised solo exhibitions, each built around a distinct and immersive theme. These include Outside the Line, which explored the blurred boundary between childhood memory and imagination through expressive abstract works and textile pieces and Through The Square Window is a contemplative series inspired by the quiet power of the landscape and the metaphysical presence of place in the Dandenong Ranges surrounding Cathryn’s studio. 

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Through each of these bodies of work, Cathryn invites viewers into an intimate sensory world—one that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

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Her art practice continues to evolve through group and solo exhibitions, studio practice and experimentation, and a commitment to exploring the unseen threads that connect emotion, memory, and place.