Sofia Barton: Death Magic

Sofia Barton was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, 1987, and is based in North Shields. She is a British artist whose work speaks to the complexities of identity, history, and belonging, often viewed through the vibrant lens of her Indian and Pakistani heritage. Following completion of a BA (Hons) in Photography and Film at Edinburgh Napier University (2012), Barton embarked on an artistic journey characterised by rigorous research and creative exploration. Her receipt of an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice award in 2022 was pivotal, enabling her to refine screenprinting techniques at Northern Print (Newcastle) and undertake deep investigations into queer identity and the enduring legacies of colonialism. These inquiries are profoundly informed by her dual heritage, allowing her to illuminate the multifaceted experiences of individuals and communities shaped by shared histories and post-partition narratives. Her work is rooted in collaborative and investigative settings, as evidenced by her residencies with Nasty Women and Durham University’s Bishop Cosin’s Library in recent years. She has undertaken commissions for a number of organisations and exhibited widely in the UK, including her solo exhibition, ‘Narivad’, at The Gallery, Gateshead Central Library (2022).