Sophie Howarth is an Australian photographic artist who lives in Sydney, Australia.

 

A graduate of the National Art School, the key theme in her art is reverence—found in the environment, far-off-lands, festivals, and the everyday. 

 

Widely known for a rock & roll archive that has become an important document of Australian and international music culture (1992-2014), Sophie was the official photographer for the legendary Big Day Out music festival, and a photographer for Rolling Stone Australia. Her work has featured in exhibitions such as Unpopular - Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (2022-2023), and We could be heroes, Newcastle Art Gallery (2020-2021).

 

Sophie’s contemporary work and research extends her enduring interest in the cultural traditions of Australia, Mongolia,  India, and elsewhere—traditions alive in modern society, honouring place, people and nature through ritual.

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What her contemporary works share with her rock n’ roll images is a study of place and reverie, and the alchemy that performance and audience inspire, exist in, and respond to collaboratively - atmospheres that evoke something beyond ourselves and a sense of belonging.

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Sophie’s immersive approach to her art practice has taken her on tour through Arnhem Land with legendary Aboriginal performers, Gurrumul Yunupingu and the Saltwater Band, and to Mongolia for the The Golden Eagle Festival, where she lived with the families of eagle and horseback trainer/hunters.

 

Behind the Lens with Sophie Howarth, curated by Glasshouse Gallery Port Macquarie (2021-2022), diarised and celebrated the anthology of imagery created by Sophie; telling individual stories, capturing experiences, culture, and land. It showcased:
 

• Contemporary images from Soaring - The Golden Eagle Festival of Mongolia.

• Homage to Chicks - an installation from the Sophie Howarth Photography Rock & Roll Archive highlighting women’s independent presence throughout all industries.

• Sophie's first book Peace Love and Brown Rice A Photographic History of the Big Day Out,  and

• Wearable art from a collaboration with Hoponit Design of Melbourne.

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