Oblong Contemporary is honoured to announce the official representation of the late Sophia Vari, one of the most influential and internationally celebrated voices in contemporary sculpture. To mark this important moment, the gallery will inaugurate a major summer showcase dedicated to her work in its Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany space.
Titled Eidos – La Forma della Felicità, the exhibition will run from 5th July to 31st August 2025, presenting an exceptional selection of 18 iconic works that span Vari’s visionary practice—from bronze sculptures and geometric watercolours to collages on canvas.
Sophia Vari’s art is renowned for its unique synthesis of classical harmony and contemporary abstraction. Her sculptural language—at once sensual and architectural—established her as a singular figure in global art history. With a refined command of form, color, and space, she created works that resonate with emotional depth and timeless beauty.
Beginning her artistic journey in painting at the age of sixteen, Vari’s practice evolved significantly after a formative trip to Egypt in 1978, where she was deeply inspired by monumental sculpture. From that moment on, sculpture in bronze and marble became central to her work, allowing her to shape humanized, architectural forms that inhabit public and private spaces with quiet power.
Legacy
Her legacy is affirmed by her inclusion in some of the world’s most prestigious museum and public collections, among them the Benaki Museum (Athens), Museo de Arte de Ponce (Puerto Rico), Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, IVAM (Valencia), Bozar (Brussels), and the Bass Museum of Art (Miami). Her monumental sculptures have been exhibited in public spaces from New York’s Park Avenue to Athens’ Kotzia Square, reflecting a life devoted to bringing art into dialogue with the world.
A prolific creator across disciplines, Vari also developed a renowned series of wearable sculptures—“sculptures-à-porter”—as well as vibrant assemblages that translate volume into colour, maintaining her signature sculptural integrity.
This landmark exhibition will open with a cocktail reception on 5 July at 7:00 PM, offering collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to experience the poetic elegance and power of her vision in an intimate setting.
With this important addition to its roster, Oblong Contemporary reaffirms its commitment to representing artists of enduring cultural impact and global significance. Eidos – La Forma della Felicità is more than an exhibition—it is a celebration of a masterful artist whose work continues to inspire across generations and geographies.
Sophia Vari passed away in 2023 in Monaco. Her legacy endures in a body of work that continues to resonate for its elegance, complexity, and timeless sense of harmony.
We warmly invite you to discover and honour the art of Sophia Vari.|
Oblong Contemporary Forte dei Marmi
Via G. Carducci, 45 – 55042 Forte dei Marmi, Italy
https://oblongcontemporary.com
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