SOPHIA VARI (1940-2023)

Sophia Vari (née Canellopoulou), born in 1940 near Athens, Greece, was a jeweler, painter, and sculptor.  She adopted the name “Vari” as a tribute to her hometown. Vari’s work is recognized for its sensuality and bold, voluminous forms.

Although she began painting at the age of 16, it was a journey to Egypt in 1978 that shifted Vari’s focus to sculpture. Inspired by the scale and permanence of ancient works, she began incorporating bronze and marble into her artistic practice. Over time, her exploration of color led her to create canvas assemblages—artworks that preserved the sculptural essence while emphasizing chromatic expression.

Her monumental polychrome sculptures have been installed in cities across the globe—including Paris, Florence, Rome, Turin, Monte Carlo, Munich, Baden-Baden, Geneva, Pietrasanta, Athens, Tenerife, Beijing, Shanghai, Madrid, Cartagena de Indias, and London.

In the 1980s, Vari’s intense travel schedule led her to consider working on a smaller scale and with more immediacy. The artist carried a box of plasticine with her, allowing her to sculpt on the go. Transforming the sensual shapes of her large-scale sculptures into wearable forms fueled her creativity.

She preferred to work with natural materials such as wood—including ebony and amaranth—as well as cork, leather, and marble. In thinking about her sculptures-à-porter and translating the monumentality of her sculptures into pieces that were light and easy to wear, she frequently used epoxy, a very lightweight resin.

Many of her pieces are inspired by Greek mythology, yet she was quick to point out that she found influences everywhere.

A world-renowned artist, Vari’s work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, major art fairs, and numerous public commissions worldwide. She lived in France, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States, and most recently divided her time between Italy, Greece, and Monaco, where she passed away in 2023.