NATRA SONIA CREATOR
CREATOR
*In case the top-right menu (in mobile) is not clickable, move the page slightly up/down
SONIA (SONYA) (Coralia) NATRA
is a multidisciplinary art creator -
sculptor, ceramicist, engraver, drawer, painter, graphic artist, photographer, poet and other.
NATRA is an international artist with worldwide reputation and is one of the best and most prominent, professional, knowledgeable and important artist in the world at all times. Her etchings and ceramics creations for example are among the greatest, most original, creative and complex, ever created worldwide.
NATRA is a genius and her brilliant mind is manifested also in her ingenious and brilliant creations.
Very few artists in the world create in the highest artistic level and mastering so many areas as this phenomenal and unique artist.
Her art creativity, complexity and professionalism, astounds through the profoundness of the ideas imagined in sculpturing, ceramics, enamel, painting, drawings, etching, silkscreens, other graphics and prints, poetry and photography.
She invented a methodology of memory, the captured of life and in her art there is a symbiosis between energy and contemplation.
During the horrors of the Nazis and afterward during the communist regime, NATRA SONIA and her family, who were considered part of the "elite", suffered from forced labor, prison time and confiscation of all their properties. Many of her art creations were stolen.
NATRA SONIA attended the academy of fine arts in Bucharest (1943), followed by studies at the Guguianu academy of art, from where she obtained her MA in Painting in 1948. Later on she studied sculpture in the N. Grigorescu national institute of art, receiving an MA in 1954. She also spent a year in Czechoslovakia as an exchange artist through the Artist's Union from 1956 to 1957.
In 1961 she emigrated to Israel with her husband NATRA SERGIU, who is one of the greatest classical music composer in the world in all times, where they now lives in Tel-Aviv.
NATRA SONIA obtained a degree in Pedagogy at Tel Aviv University (1971-1975), graduate the National Academy of Fine Arts, Paris (1974-1976) and taught art in important institutions and academies, such as, the Art Teacher's College, Beit Berl, Talpiot, Renanim, Wizo, where she developed new methods of teaching (1965-1990). Over the years, she nurtured, outlined the way and left her mark on generations of students (over 2000), who would reach significant achievements.
Her exceptional works, which have a particular and unique style, cover a considerable range, represented by sculpture, ceramic, etching, silkscreens, drawings, painting, photos and enamel. Several of her significant murals were commissioned for public and private buildings, among others, in Bezeq Academy in Jerusalem, Dan Carmel Hotel in Haifa, Dan Hotel in Tel-Aviv. In addition she writes poetry, in several languages, French, English and Romanian, that was published in several books and magazines.
NATRA had exhibited in Europe, the USA and generally worldwide, in addition to appearing in a number of public and private collections. Her works are to be found also in museums and cultural centers all over the World. She received many official acclaim, among others, Russia, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Israel, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, USA.
NATRA SONIA and NATRA SERGIUhave two sons, Natra Danny and Natra Gabi.
STYLE
NATRA SONIA is very prolific throughout her career. The total number of artworks she had created is estimated in several thousands, comprising of sculptures, drawings, etchings, paintings, ceramics, enamels, prints and numerous works in other techniques.
NATRA made her most significancant creations and contributions in sculpturing, etching, ceramic and enamels. Her creations includes figurative works which were created with profound anatomical knowledge of the highest level, abstract works with emphasis on shapes, colours, forms and textures as well as combination of these styles. She demonstrats a great stylistic versatility in her works on which she had worked simultaneously, including at night time.
NATRA SONIA sculptures are made from clay, marble, gypsum and bronze. Her styles in ceramic, etchings and in enamels, are completely unique and she invented several techniques in her works.
From the beginning of his career, NATRA SONIA displayed an interest in the human corpus which is reflected in her different works. She creates mostly from imagination.
NATRA have received an excellent education, having studied several languages including, Latin, Romanian, French, German, English, Hebrew and other. She exhibited poetical talent at an early age. Her poems uses an imagist forms and metaphors to present dramatic images and ideas, experiences and feelings. Her poems cover new and wide range of subjects and themes, including nature, spirit, allegory of life and others.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
▪ shows in museums and art institutions in Israel.
▪ Maison des Science de I'Homme, Paris, 1984.
▪ Individual show at the Bibliotheque Internationale des Arts– Paris.
▪ Fine Museum, San Francisco.
▪ Hebrew College, Boston.
▪ Maastricht, Holland.
▪ Personal shows in the painters and sculptors associations Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, 1997 - 1999.
▪ 82 collective exhibitions in Europe, U.S.A, Canada, Australia, Japan in museums and art centers.
▪ Repetitive participation in international exhibitions: Paris, Monaco, Faenza, Napoli, Hannover.
▪ In the International Exhibition – Monaco, 1982-1985.
▪ 6 exhibition of contemporary ceramics – Faenza (work was acquired by the Museum).
▪ Artistes de France -Grand Palais, 1992- 2010, each year, France.
▪ 2 personal exhibitions at the “Cite Internationale des Arts”, 1993-1994, Paris.
SELECTED AWARDS
▪ Women Artistes of the Year, 1958, Romania
▪ Trophy of the Academy of Naples and Diploma of Excellence by the Centro Rodino, 1984, Italy
▪ Medal of the Ministry of Culture, 1989 Israel
▪ Maestri Della Ceramica Contemporanea - Faenza, Italy
▪ L'official des Arts, UNESCO, Lausanne, Switzerland
▪ Foremost Women of the 20th Century - Cambridge England, WHO IS WHO, LAUSANNE
▪ Outstanding Women Artistes of the past and now, CAMBRIDGE, England
▪ REGARDS France, Portraits d`artistes
▪ REGARDS, UNIVERS DES ARTS
▪ SALON LES ARTISTES FRANCAIS, Rose de France
▪ Guest of Honour of the International Center of Contemporary Art, Paris
▪ ANTOLOGIES DE LUTECEE, SEQUANCES
▪ FLORILAGE DE ARTISTES OF THE FRACOPHONIE
▪ MAESTRI DELLA CERAMICA CONTEMPORANEA,FAENZA
▪ Vermeil medal international academy of Lutèce Paris for poetry, 1994
▪ Gold medal for painting and poetry AIL, 1995
▪ Gold medals for visual arts and literature international Academy of Lutèce, 1996
▪ Vermeil medal of Academic institution arts-sciences-lettres Paris for sculpture, 1997
▪ Trophies of the Academy of Lutèce, 1997
▪ Prize for abstract art Quebec,1989, Canada
▪ The Critics Prize for Abstract Art, Canada
▪ Gold medals with felicitations of the jury AIL, 1998
▪ Academic knight of the Academy Cenci-Marino Italy, 1998
▪ Gold medal for sculpture Academy of Lutèce, 1999
▪ TILL 1991 guest of honour of``the ARTISTES DE FRANCE ASS., 1987
▪ Croix de vermeil of Merite et Devouement Francais Paris for contribution to culture and humanitarian activity, 1999
▪ PRIZE N.PALTI, 1998
▪ Medal of the SALON LES ARTISTES FRANCAIS for sculpture, 2004
▪ Prize CHARLES LE QUINTREC for poems, 2009
▪ Gold medal of the SALON LES ARTISTES FRANCAIS for etchings, 2010
REFERENCE
▪ Who's Who in International Art (p. 103, 172, 1989/90)(p. 255, 278, 1991/92)
▪ Who's Who in the 21 st Century (p. 558), 2002
▪ Who's Who in Israel and Jewish Personalities from All Over the World, Bronfman, (p. 237), 1985
▪ Foremost Women of the twentieth century, International Biographical Center Cambridge England (p. dedications, 361), 2002
▪ The international directoney of distinguished leadership, The American Biographical Institute (p. 373), 1989
▪ The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
▪ A Century of Romanian Sculpturey
▪ Witnesses, NATRA SONIA, 1992
▪ Artists of Israel, Meḥirah pumbit (p. 50), 2002
▪ Who's who in Israel and in the work for Israel abroad, Bronfman Cohen Publications (p. 262), 1978
▪ Who's who in Israel and Jewish Personalities from All Over the World, Bronfman (p.237), 1985
▪ Izkor: Poemul Umbrelor funebre, M. Rudich, SONIA NATRA, 1980
▪ Who’s Who Name Index
▪ Around Jewish Art: A Dictionary of Painters, Sculptors, and Photographers (P. 182, 325)
▪ Art: peintres et sculpteurs du XVe au XXIe siècle, 2006
▪ Portraits d'Artistes, 1998 & 2007, Regards, France
▪ Artistes du XV au XXI siecle, 2006 & 2009, Regards, France
▪ Le Salon des Artistes Français, 2009
▪ Solo Vocal Works on Jewish Themes: A Bibliography of Jewish Composers ׂ(p. 132ׁ), Kenneth Jaffe, 2011
▪ The Israel Music Institute
▪ Harposphere Paris
MEMBERSHIP
▪ Societaire Salon des Artistes Francais, Salon Les Artistes Francais, 1986
▪ Academie Internationale de Lutèce
▪ Arts Sciences Lettres
▪ Merite et Devouement Français (Croix d'Argent)
▪ Member of Greci-Marino Academy Verbano Italy
▪ Publications of poems in the Jean Grassin ed. Sequences and Anthologies
▪ Internationals Who is Who, Foremost women of the twentieth century
▪ International directory of distinguished leadership ED. I.B .C. CAMBRIDGE ENGLAND
▪ Numerous catalogues of national and international exhibitions
▪ Editions Regards: Portraits D`artistes , Femmes artistes d`hier a aujourdhui, Ecrits D`artistes
▪ AFICHES D`ART ET LE GAND LIVRE D`ART Ed.Chelbi Paris
▪ ED. FLORILEGES, O.FURON. SOC. DES AUTEURS ET POETES DE LA FRANCOPHONIE
▪ A.S.P.E.C.T.S, Paris
▪ A.W.A California
▪ International Academy Art, Science, Lettres Paris
▪ Honor guest of Artistes de France
ACADEMIC
TEACHING
▪ 1971-1975 Avni Institute Tel Aviv
▪ Mizrachi Art Teachers Seminary
▪ Institute of Plastic Arts Bat Yam
▪ WIZO France Institute Tel Aviv
▪ Art Teachers College Ramat Hasharon
STUDIES
▪ 1943 National Academy of Fine Arts, Bucharest
▪ 1948 M.A. Academy of Art Guguiano - Painting
▪ 1954 M.A National Institute of Art N. Grigorescu - Sculpture
▪ 1956-57 Further studies, Czechoslovakia, France
▪ 1957-58 Further studies, Italy and USA
▪ 1971-74 Pedagogy and Psychology, B.A. Tel Aviv University
▪ 1974-76 National Academy of Fine Arts, Paris
▪ 1971 Prof. Sculpture and Ceramics
