Sophie DeFrancesca

Works
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Blue Marilyn, 2025
    Blue Marilyn, 2025
    61 x 20 x 22 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Midas Touch, 2025
    Midas Touch, 2025
    34 x 19 x 23 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Sunrise, 2025
    Sunrise, 2025
    62 x 24 x 26 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Atomic Pink, 2025
    Atomic Pink, 2025
    62 x 21 x 26 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Blue Moon, 2025
    Blue Moon, 2025
    62 x 21 x 26 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Ms. Parallel Universe, 2023
    Ms. Parallel Universe, 2023
    60 x 18 x 20 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Ms. Universal Love, 2023
    Ms. Universal Love, 2023
    58 x 18 x 23 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Ms. Universal Peace (variation 2), 2025
    Ms. Universal Peace (variation 2), 2025
    59 x 18 x 22 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Orange Crush (Variation 2), 2025
    Orange Crush (Variation 2), 2025
    61 x 20 x 26 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Solar Radiance, 2025
    Solar Radiance, 2025
    63 x 23 x 23 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Blue Aphrodite, 2024
    Blue Aphrodite, 2024
    51 x 16 x 16 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Rebirth of Venus, 2025
    Rebirth of Venus, 2025
    67 x 21 x 21 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Garnet Red Aphrodite, 2024
    Garnet Red Aphrodite, 2024
    50 x 15 x 15 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Black Venus, 2020
    Black Venus, 2020
    66 x 21 x 29 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Breakfast at Tiffany's (Variation 5), 2023
    Breakfast at Tiffany's (Variation 5), 2023
    62 x 13 x 18 inches
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Breakfast at Tiffany's (Variation 6), 2023
    Breakfast at Tiffany's (Variation 6), 2023
    62 x 13 x 17 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Champagne Celebration, 2023
    Champagne Celebration, 2023
    63 x 27 x 33 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Golden Era, 2022
    Golden Era, 2022
    61 x 26 x 34 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Iconic Marilyn in Iridescent Gold 3, 2022
    Iconic Marilyn in Iridescent Gold 3, 2022
    62 x 15 x 19 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Just Too Much, 2020
    Just Too Much, 2020
    65 x 14 x 21 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Original Blonde Bombshell (Variation 2), 2023
    Original Blonde Bombshell (Variation 2), 2023
    62 x 33 x 30 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Vintage Cameo, 2023
    Vintage Cameo, 2023
    62 x 24 x 27 inches
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Buck Berry, 2022
    Buck Berry, 2022
    27 x 16 x 18 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Primal Blue, 2024
    Primal Blue, 2024
    31 x 25 x 17 1/2 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Forest Swag, 2024
    Forest Swag, 2024
    34 x 28 1/2 x 17 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Big Hair Big Dreams, 2013
    Big Hair Big Dreams, 2013
    39 x 28 x 20 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Sun King, 2025
    Sun King, 2025
    31 x 20 x 19 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Blondes Have More Fun, 2013
    Blondes Have More Fun, 2013
    45 x 37 x 23 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Control of the Masses 14, 2016
    Control of the Masses 14, 2016
    7 x 30 x 4 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Control of the Masses 16, 2016
    Control of the Masses 16, 2016
    7 x 30 x 4 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Control of the Masses 17, 2016
    Control of the Masses 17, 2016
    7 x 30 x 4 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Control of the Masses 20, 2016
    Control of the Masses 20, 2016
    7 x 31 x 4 in.
  • Sophie DeFrancesca, Control of the Masses 22, 2016
    Control of the Masses 22, 2016
    7 x 29 x 4 in.
Overview
"As a young child, DeFrancesca remembers being captivated by her as well as the other maternal figures in her life, considering them goddesses fit for worship."

Toronto artist Sophie DeFrancesca has always been fascinated by vintage fashion. Pictures of her mother wearing gorgeous frocks from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s served as a connection to her after her passing in the artist’s early childhood. Most of her mother’s clothes were handmade by extended family members out of necessity, not bought. As a new immigrant escaping the horrors of war in Europe, her resilient mother embraced North American culture, and the optimism that came with it. As a young child, DeFrancesca remembers being captivated by her as well as the other maternal figures in her life, considering them goddesses fit for worship.

 

DeFrancesca’s new works are interpretations of the gowns and dresses of some of the most influential designers of the twentieth century including Dior, Chanel and Cassini. The iconic women who wore their brilliant creations were the artist’s mother’s inspiration, and they’ve continued to inspire generations of women to this day. The artist’s new works are therefore an homage to the designers who enabled a woman’s inner beauty and grace to be reflected on the outside.

Biography

Sophie DeFrancesca was born in Toronto, and graduated from the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) in 1990. In the early 2000's, wire mesh emerged as an important material for DeFrancesca.  Sheathes of galvanized steel mesh allowed her to hand-shape human scale forms. Working figuratively, DeFrancesca rendered hard materials into ethereal concoctions. Her workspace in Leslieville offers the artist refuge to explore cultural and social phenomenon in all its evocations. Her sculptures have earned her gallery representation, and group and solo exhibitions at prestigious venues including Toronto,  Montreal, New York, Los Angeles and Miami, and have captured the attention of collectors around the world.

 

By probing the conventional understandings of gender and sexuality, she explores the tension between women’s lived experience, the cultural meaning that informs this experience, and the human condition in general. Transforming sheathes of wire mesh into ethereal confections that transcend the hard, commonplace materials they are made from, her work reflects life’s adversities and transformations. She encourages viewers to look beyond the surface qualities of the work, to the deeper meanings hidden within it.

Art Fairs