About

Sophie Drury (Ngāti Maniapoto, P̄ākehā) is an early-career artist curator based in Tāmaki Makarau. They work with a variety of materials and mediums to conceptualise their work, with focus on painting. They have used a variety of mediums such as dyes, oil pastels, and currently focus on using oil paints. Their art draws heavily on narrative as a source of research. Exploring aspects of interpretation within the bodies of text they focus on and reinterpreting them in a painted form.

Education:

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), 2026 - 2027 at Elam Fine Arts

Relevant Work:

• Artspace Aotearoa Volunteer (2026)
• Elam Gallery Assistant (2025)

Press/Text:

• Delve, Ophis Press (2025)
  Publisher and participating writer
• Various Artists w/ Sof and Maya: the Elam Graduate Show Special, Interview (2025)

Selected Exhibitions:

• In Conversation, Project Space, Auckland (2026)
  Participating artist
• Concrete Proof, Silo 6, Auckland (2026)
  Co-curator and participating artist
• "Roisin", Elam Project Space, Auckland (2026)
  Participating artist
• “Bitch did you just call me a fairy?”, BENT, Elam Project Space, Auckland (2026)
  Curator and participating artist
• Failures Teach Us More Than Success, Studio One Toi Tu, Auckland (2026)
  Participating artist
• Hung out to dry, Elam Project Space, Auckland (2025)
  Co-curator and participating artist
• "People we take with us, songs we sing together", Auckland (2025)
  Co-curator and participating artist
• Elam Artists Graduate Show (2025)
  Participating artist
• Queer Pictures: 40th Anniversary, BENT, Elam Project Space, Auckland (2025)
  Organiser, Curator and participating artist
• Intaglio, Relief, Planar, Group Exhibition, Elam Project Space, Auckland (2025)
  Organiser, Curator and participating artist

Awards:

• Gordon Harris Art Supplies Prize (2026)