Sophia Campbell, 'Sit, Still'

My work explores the human figure in intimate, often overlooked moments - particularly those in or around water. I am drawn to figures that exist at the margins of holiday photos. Those fleeting, quiet moments captured in the background, where the figure interacts with the environment in a state of leisure or repose. Using oil paint on both large and small scales, I aim to evoke a sense of solitude and connection, distilling the figures from the original context to create new narratives. Whether by the pool or at the edge of the sea, these figures embody a kind of suspended, serene detachment. By focusing on these often-inconspicuous figures, I bring attention to their vulnerability and stillness, contrasting them with the expansive spaces of water and sky.  

These selected small-scale works invite the viewer into a private moment of reflection and contemplation, to experience the stillness of these moments within the paintings.

Sophia Campbell (b.1997) is a painter based in Belfast. Having graduated from Belfast School of Art with a First Class Honours in Fine Art in 2019, Campbell went on to co found Arcade Studios, where she is currently director, curator, and studio-holder.  Campbell has exhibited across Dublin, Belfast, London, and Walsall. She has exhibited with the Oliver Sears Gallery and most recently ‘Run for Your Life,’ a two person show at Arcade Studios in June of this year. She has been the recipient of various awards including Arts Council of Northern Ireland SIAP General Arts Award (2022) and RDS Visual Art Awards, Dublin (2019). Since 2020, Campbell has co-ordinated and curated exhibitions at Arcade Studios, most notably the Royale Arcade Academy exhibition 3 years in a row.