Sonja is a senior Quandamooka weaver. In her practice, she draws inspiration from the many stories connected to traditional Quandamooka weaving and also explores contemporary materials and techniques – in particular, discarded ‘ghost nets’ and fishing lines – that directly respond to concerns about the preservation of the natural environment.
An active member in her community, she is a leader in the regeneration of Quandamooka weaving, passing on cultural knowledge and skills through workshops, exhibitions, and field research.
She has shown in group exhibitions, including: Seeds and Sovereignty: QAGOMA Collection (2024), QAGOMA; How We Remember Tomorrow (2024), Art Museum University of Queensland; Ngumpi: Create Exchange (2024), Redland Art Gallery; Deep Blue, Pine Rivers Art Gallery (2024); Mare Amoris: Sea of Love (2023) Art Museum University of Queensland; TarraWarra Biennale: ua usiusi fa’ava’asavili:: (2023), Tarrawarra Museum of Art, Victoria; Gone Fishing (2023), QAGOMA; Perspectives of Brisbane (2023), Museum of Brisbane; The Space Between Us, Nuit Blanche, (2022) Toronto; HEAT (2022), Redcliffe Art Gallery, Queensland; Undertow (2022), Freemantle Arts Centre, Western Australia; Dabiyil Bajara: Water Footprints (2022), Tanks Art Centre, Cairns; Carriers of Memory (2021), Museum of Brisbane, Queensland; Open Hands (2020), Tarnanthi, Art Gallery of South Australia ; Long water: fibre stories (2020), Institute of Modern Art, national touring venues; Legacy: Reflections on Mabo (2019), Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and national touring venues; Australian Art Collection (2017), Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland; and Gathering Strands (2016), Redland Art Gallery, Queensland.
Her work is held in the collections of numerous galleries including the Queensland Art Gallery, Museum of Brisbane, National Gallery of Victoria, National Museum of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Redland Art Gallery.
