SYLVIA E SINEL
A Devotion to Color, Line & Form
CURRENT EXHIBITION
"From Thought to Form" is an interdisciplinary body of work that encourages audiences to connect with the mystical space where thought, surface, and soul intertwine. Sinel’s deeply rooted curiosity for materials and her continuous exploration of form have evolved into a distinctive artistic vocabulary and voice.
Through sculptural works, experimental surfaces, and poetic abstraction, the exhibition explores themes of transformation and transcendence. Each work acts as a vessel—holding memories, intuition, and knowing—extending an invitation to consider how matter might carry intention, and how viewers might engage not only with what is seen, but also with what is sensed.
Get in touch if you would like a PDF copy of the exhibition catalogue.
SCULPTURE
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DRAWING
COLOR ON FORM
"There's more to the world than meets the eye.
I have always been intruiged by the mystical and the idea of a greater consiousness.
The source of all inspiration"
"Thought forms" (2023) 900 x 1220 mm. Acrylic, oil and gold details on board. Custom framed.
About
“At the beginning of time, I was handed a pair of colorful shoes. These wondrous shoes have taken me around the world, often aside the beaten track where it’s less crowded and silence occasionally sings. They point me in directions where I notice details others often seem to miss; I can sense stories, hidden patterns and above all, I can see color, line and form”
Sylvia Sinel emigrated to New Zealand from Sweden 2013 and lives and works in Browns Bay, Auckland.
Sylvia's interdisciplinary practice spans over 35 years, with works held in private collections worldwide. The core and creative drive is a deep curiosity for materials, spirituality and ancient wisdom traditions. Each piece is granted agency and allowed to find its own voice and story through an intuitive, responsive process. Sylvia’s unique form language is characterized by clean lines influenced by her Swedish/Scandinavian origin, in combination with soft curves and strong silhouettes. Her work evokes a sense of both familiarity and otherness—inviting viewers to linger in the liminal space where form, painterly surface and soul intertwine.
"Time Travel" (2021) Stoneware with runic inscriptions and 24ct gold details. Sold at Welcome Swallow Gallery.
Gallery
Here is a small selection of work I have made over the past ten years whilst living in New Zealand.
Many of these were included in the 10 year retrospective exhibition "A Devotion to Form" showing at The Welcome Swallow City Gallery in Hamilton during Feb-Mar 2024. Please contact me if you would like a free copy of the exhibition catalogue and any with any enquries at all. I would love to hear from you!
Follow me on instagram to see more work and what I'm up to at present.
Detail from the exhibition "Peripheral Vision" at The Mandarin Tree 2023
"Litter Angel" recycled plastc & "Esscence" Acrylic and Oil on board.
Resume
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
- 2025 "From Thought to Form - Materiality Speaking" Hanrad Gallery, Hamilton, New Zealand.
- 2024 "A Devotion to Form" Welcome Swallow Gallery, Hamilton, New Zealand
- 2023 "Peripheral Vision" The Mandarin Tree, Gordonton, New Zealand
- 2012 "Here and now" Gallery Kyrkskolan Stockholm, Sweden
- 2011 "This is it" Kistamässan, Stockholm, Sweden
- 2009 "Tales by a fairy with elephant feet" Gallery Lorentzon Stockholm, Sweden
- 2004 "Forbidden Fruit" Gallery Hagström Stockholm, Sweden
- 1998 Fisher Gallery Pakuranga, New Zealand
- 1996 Gallery Premiär Falun, Sweden
Awards & Group Shows
- 2025 Finalist in Perpetual guardian Small Sculpture Prize
- 2024 Finalist Pushing Clay, Forsyth Barr Contemporary Ceramics Awards, Nelson New Zealand.
- 2023 Finalist WSA Small Sculpture Prize, Hamilton New Zealand
- 2022 Finalist Finalist RT Nelson Sculpture Award
- 2022 Finalist Portage Ceramic Awards, Auckland New Zealand
- 2021 Memories in the Landscape Waitakaruru sculpture park
- 2021 Ambiguity group show WS Gallery
- 2021 Finalist RT Nelson Sculpture Award
- 2021 WORK, Never projectplace GRRRL Fest
- 2021 Finalist Small Sculpture prize, Waiheke Island
- 2020 Finalist UKU 2020
- 2019 Finalist Waiclay National Ceramics Award
- 2019 Finalist Small Sculpture prize, Waiheke Island
- 2019 Finalist No8 National Wire Award
- 2018 Finalist Rick Rudd’s emerging practitioner in Clay Award
- 2018 FinalistUKU 2018
- 2018 Imery’s national tableware exhibition,
- 2017 Finalist National Waiclay Ceramic Awards
- 2017 NZ Potter’s national tableware exhibition
- 2016 Imerey’s national tableware exhibition
- 2016 "Birdbrain" Calder & Lawson Gallery
Curated by Sybille Schlumbom - 2015 Finalist Waiclay National Ceramics Awards
- 2015 Finalist NZ Potters National exhibition
- 2011 Höstsalongen Haninge kulturhus Stockholm
- 2011 Kulturstigen “Meeting” Stockholm
- 2009 Kulturstigen “Money” Stockholm
- 2000 SKF’s 25th Anniversary Stockholm
- 1998 Waitakere Art Trust Award Auckland
- 1998 Fisher Gallery Pakuranga
Awards
- 2025 Notabe Artists, LakeHouse Arts annual exhibtion
- 2023 Mac's mud Award at Waikato Society of Potters annual exhibition
- 2016 Recognition of Achievement for Diploma in Ceramic Arts, Otago Polytechnic.
- 2015 Merit Award "The Occasion of a Meal" - NZP Tertiary Student Competition
- 2015 Highly Commended Award "Contrast & Union" - NZ Potter's National Exhibition.
Public Commissions
- 2022 DM Trust - Matariki 7 Paintings
- 2022 Art in Nature Trust - Ruru Sculpture
- 2022 DM Trust - Totem Sculpture
Education
Otago Polytechnic 2015-2016
- Diploma in Ceramic Arts
Graduated with Recognition of Achievement
Stockholm University 2002-11
- Art Pedagogy I
- Philosophy
- Folk Art
- Astronomy vs Astrology
University of Dalarna 2008
- Physics A
Ölands folkhögskola 2002
- Certificate in stone sculpting
Paletten Art School 1994-95
- Diploma in Painting, Sculpting and Art history
+ Various workshops in different techniques.
Performance
- TVNZ’s Neighbourhood Chartwell/Rototuna 2016
- Pecha Kucha Volume 23, 2016. At the Hamilton Garden Arts festival
- Pecha Kucha Volume 18, 2014 in Hamilton. Part of Spark International Festival of Media, Arts & Design
- Circus le Fou 2001-2002 Trapeze acrobat.
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Get in Touch
Let me know if you are interested in collaborating or whether you have any questions that I could help you with.
