b.1962, London, U.K.; lives and works in London, U.K.

Sonia Boyce is recognized for her influential contributions to the Black British art movement and her exploration of race, gender, and identity politics. Boyce gained prominence in the 1980s among a peer group that challenged the lack of representation and addressed issues of racism and cultural identity in the art world. Her works incorporate performance, photography, and mixed media, including elements of collage and assemblage. Throughout her career, Boyce has continued to push boundaries and question traditional notions of art. Her practice evolved to include large-scale installations, immersive environments, and multimedia works that engage and implicate viewers in a critical dialogue about representational politics and the power dynamics at play when considering the co-production of art. Frequently mining popular culture, Boyce explores dance, music and archival footage, to reflect on the politics of cultural appropriation and the complexities of cultural heritage. Sonia Boyce's works continue to challenge conventions, elevate marginalized voices, and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse art world. Her artistic practice serves as a catalyst for discussions on cross-cultural relations and the intersections of identity, inspiring audiences to question established norms and embrace a more inclusive understanding of art and society.

In 2022, Boyce presented Feeling Her Way, a major new commission for the British Pavilion at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia for which she was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation. Sonia Boyce's recent exhibitions include Sonia Boyce. An Awkward Relation, Whitechapel Gallery, London (2024); Feeling Her Way, Turner Contemporary, Margate (2023); The Disorderly, Apalazzo Gallery, Brescia (2022); Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s - Now, Tate Britain, London (2021); In the Castle of My Skin, Eastside Projects, Birmingham (2020); Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice), Villa Arson, Nice (2016); Sonia Boyce – Scat– Sound & Collaboration, Iniva, Rivington Place, London (2013); Like Love Part One, Spike Island, Bristol (2009); and Devotional, National Portrait Gallery, London (2007).

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For Sonia Boyce's entry on Asia Art Archive's website please click here.