SOPHIA VARI

Vari, 1940 – Monte Carlo, 2023

Sophia Vari, born near Athens and known by her artistic name “Vari” in homage to her hometown, began her artistic journey at the age of sixteen when she moved to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. Her distinctive style blends Baroque, Cycladic, and Pre-Columbian influences, enriched by elements from Cubism as well as Mayan and Olmec civilizations, in a continuous pursuit of balance between form, color, and volume.

A pivotal moment in her career came in 1978 during a trip to Egypt, which inspired her to incorporate bronze and marble into her figurative work. In the 1980s, her style evolved toward a more abstract and geometric language, and by the 1990s she began creating large-scale polychrome sculptures. Her artistic practice spans painting, collage, bas-relief, sculpture, and jewelry, the latter producing true “wearable sculptures” that combine geometry and sensuality using materials such as gold, silver, wood, and marble.

With over 120 solo exhibitions worldwide, Sophia Vari has established herself as a prominent figure in the international art scene. Her works—especially her monumental sculptures—are conceived to engage with the urban environment, reflecting a universal artistic vision rooted in harmony, sensuality, and formal precision.