Sophie Holt, My sweet blue soul
Sophie Holt appreciates the elemental and timeless quality of clay as a medium for expression. Creating artwork - particularly from clay - is for her an instinctive way to process experiences and thoughts: ’It's in my genes and in my blood - clay makes me feel connected to “home”.’ Her illustrations and sculptures are whimsical and surprising, captivating and sometimes confounding, and often hint at fairy-tale-like narratives.
Born in Christchurch, Sophie Holt grew up in Utrecht, The Netherlands and has lived in NZ for the past 12 years. She is a third-generation ceramicist, having learned from her grandparents and her mother, acclaimed Dutch artist Lot Brandt. Holt is involved in many creative collaborations under her brand Studio Soph, including having her illustrations reproduced on a variety of homewares. She currently produces artwork and domesticware from her home studio in Motueka.