Key points
Sonya Kertész is a painter and ceramicist based in Montreal, inspired by the underwater world, which she explores through diving and photography.
His work highlights the impacts of humans on the marine environment in the context of the Anthropocene.
She uses rich painting techniques, layering paint and mixing colors based on her own underwater photos.
Montreal-based Canadian artist Sonya Kertész forges a unique connection between art and the ocean. Born in 1969, this multidisciplinary artist masters oil and acrylic painting as well as ceramics, with a precision and intensity that reflect her unique background. A graduate of Concordia University's Fine Arts program (painting and drawing), she draws inspiration from the depths of the ocean, through an artistic practice deeply rooted in the exploration and memory of places.
For over 30 years, Kertész has been diving—literally—into the heart of her subject. As a seasoned diver and underwater photographer, she explores inaccessible sites, such as shipwrecks, caves, and forgotten industrial structures, capturing them underwater before transforming them into works of art. Her practice is based on rigorous documentation, combined with an aesthetic sensibility that goes beyond the simple gaze: she captures the light, textures, reliefs, and metamorphoses of the marine world.
The human imprint at the heart of the work
Trio (2022), Sonya Kertész, Oil on Canvas, 101.6x152.4 cm
What truly distinguishes Sonya Kertész's work is the way she situates it within the context of the Anthropocene—an era marked by humanity's indelible impact on the environment. Through her paintings, she highlights the effects of time and human intervention on the seabed, coral, and sunken ships. Far from a dramatic or fatalistic vision, her art invites contemplation, awareness, and, above all, a dialogue between natural beauty and human memory.
Kertész doesn't just paint seascapes: she reveals their souls. She begins her creative process with a careful selection of underwater photographs, which she then reworks in the studio: cropping, modifying colors and shapes, sketching with pencil, then applying washes and successive layers of paint. She creates her own colors, playing with dichromatic combinations to create vibrant and nuanced atmospheres.
Sensitive, powerful and timeless works
Ali (2020), Sonya Kertész, Oil on Canvas, 76.2x61 cm
Among his recent works, Ali , Silence and Trio eloquently illustrate the richness of his visual language. Ali opens a contemplative parenthesis with the image of a solitary boat on a calm sea, where deep blues envelop the gaze in a meditative atmosphere. This serenity responds to Silence , which, through a bird's eye view of a moored boat, plays on contrasts of warmth and chromatic coolness, suggesting waiting, rest, suspended time. With Trio , the artist celebrates harmony and coexistence through three colorful boats floating side by side, like characters united by a shared history or a silent friendship. Beyond their singularities, these works share a refined pictorial quality, a subtly mastered palette and a composition of great accuracy. They tell stories without words, inviting reflection, emotion and memory.
Why follow Sonya Kertész today
Silence (2020), Sonya Kertész, Oil on Canvas, 45.7x61 cm
Sonya Kertész's world is perfectly aligned with contemporary concerns: ecology, memory of places, exploration, and humanity. Her work embodies a rare sensitivity, combining technical expertise, emotion, and commitment. She is an artist who doesn't follow trends, but rather builds a personal, coherent, and constantly evolving language.
To follow her work closely today is to accompany an artist in the full maturity of her approach. It also means being part of a unique poetic and visual journey, anchored in the depths of the ocean but looking toward the future. Whether in galleries, exhibitions, or private collections, her creations possess that rare power: they captivate, they leave a lasting impression, and they endure.
FAQ
What is Sonya Kertész’s main medium?
She works mainly in oil and acrylic, and also creates ceramic sculptures.
What inspires his art?
His works are inspired by his underwater explorations, particularly of wrecks, corals and places steeped in history.
What is his training?
She graduated in Fine Arts (painting and drawing) from Concordia University in Montreal.