Artist and Entrepreneur Sophie Tea has established a lucrative art brand and a loyal community through social media, allowing her to sell thousands of her paintings through Instagram. By overlooking the standard practices of an art gallery.
She uses a unique business model, allowing buyers the option to pay for original artwork in instalments. To date, Sophie has sold over $9million worth of artwork in 12 months.
She is admired for her empowering portraits of naked women and viral NUDIES. Sophie was also one of the pioneers of the ‘Glitter Boobs’ trend when a photo of her decked in glitter at Coachella went viral in 2017. Tea has gone from strength to strength, launching her first exhibition, ‘Send Nudes’ in 2019, opening art stores in Sydney, Australia and a standout store in London’s Carnaby Street.
Art Plugged were invited to experience Sophie’s abstract portraits in the flesh at her most significant art show to date, titled ‘WOMEN’, a NUDIE catwalk show held at London’s Waldorf Hilton. The show brings together 50 women selected out of 2,000 applicants to share their stories and bring to life Sophie’s symbolic portraits into the physical realm.
Her current body of work gives the middle finger to body standards as her muses embrace body diversity to celebrate all WOMEN in this provocative presentation. It also commemorates her 6th show and the final Nudie event before embarking on a new era of expression.
As everyone took their seats, the buzz of excitement filled the opulent surroundings as supporters and collectors eagerly awaited. Beyonce’s ‘Run The World’ ignited the speakers; the audience erupted as the first two muses appeared embellished in Sophie’s decorative aesthetic. As they elegantly strutted the catwalk, glowing with confidence wearing nothing but underwear in unison to the inspiring sounds of Sasha fierce, striking poses for the adoring onlookers.
The show continued with solid momentum as the noble muses continued to grace the catwalk, voguing to an efficacious tracklist of hits from Katy Perry, Aretha Franklin, Demi Lovato, Destiny’s Child, and more. The show concluded with Cyndi lauper’s ‘Girls just want to have fun’. As Sophie and her muses gathered together as she expressed her appreciation and support in making the show happen.
The response was immense as the audience rose to their feet and delivered a massive round of applause. ‘WOMEN’ celebrated community, art, and sisterhood in an electrifying experience for the senses and presented Tea’s work in a compelling perspective.
https://www.instagram.com/sophieteaart/
©2021 Sophie Tea
Len is a curator and a contributing writer at Art Plugged, a platform for contemporary art; he also engages in web development, design, and marketing.
