Meet the Artist
Sophia
Fraresso
“The series titled Strangers in Toronto is a cultural cross section of the city; a collection of painted faces of various strangers photographed throughout Toronto. Guiding the spectator to confront the gaze of the individuals, the purpose of the series is to force the viewer to reflect on the subtle impacts of strangers in their lives, as well as consider that they are as equally significant and complex as themselves. In the current climate of isolation in 2021/2022, Fraresso hopes viewers find comfort in the strong community, empathy, and solidarity that strangers are so ready to share with them, as the artist discovered while completing this project.”
Sophia Fraresso was born on May 8, 2000 in the beautiful village of Eden Mills in rural Ontario. Encouraged from a young age by the countless artists in her community, a passion quickly cultivated in her that would shape her entire life. Attending GCVI for high school, Fraresso founded the Guelph Collegiate Arts Committee where she led a group of young artists in putting on exhibitions such as “Young Artists of Guelph.” Fraresso also completed The Da Vinci Program, where her and other young artists put on the exhibition “in(between).” Fraresso put on her first solo show at age 18 at Necessary Arts Company in Guelph, where she also won the Michelangelo Arts Award of Excellence and the Co-operative Education Award for her work at a studio/gallery. She currently lives in Toronto and is finishing her BFA in Drawing and Painting at OCAD University.
Portraiture, Figurative Drawing/Painting
2018, Sophia Fraresso: Art Show + Sale
Guelph, ON
2018, face2face
Toronto, ON
2018, Grade 12 Art Show
Guelph, ON
2017, in(between)
Guelph, ON
2017, Young Artists of Guelph
Guelph, ON
2018, Michelangelo Art Award of Excellence
Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
2018, The Co-operative Education Award
Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute