Curriculum Vitae

Sonja Langford
b. 1994, St. Augustine, Florida
Lives and works in Connecticut


Education


2026 (in progress) - Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, Graduate Certificate in College Instruction

2023 - Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Minors in Southern Studies and Outdoor Adventure Education/Experiential Education, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina


Solo, Two, or Three Person Exhibitions

(* indicates a solo)


2026       Forthcoming solo exhibition at Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, Alabama. *


2025       Muscle Memory - with Rebecca Pempek at 82Parris, Portland, ME 

                  If / Only / And / Then - with Faye Pamintuan and Rachel Volpone. Anonymous Society Gallery, Redding, Conn. 


2023     The Woman Who Wasn't Drowning. Solo exhibition at UNC Charlotte, Student Union Gallery. *


2022      Bodies of Work - with Carolyn DeMerritt and Pink/MM Bass. Eastern Shore Center for Art, Fairhope, AL. 


2021      On Being: Maiden, Mother, Crone. with Tonya Hughes and Pinky/MM Bass. The Walnut Gallery, Gadsden, AL 


Selected Group Exhibitions


2025    Giant Size Small Works, Contemporary Art Galleries, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

                 Translating from the Edges - Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven, Conn.

                 HILL BLOCKS VIEW - Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, Conn. 

                 Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy McColl Center, Charlotte, NC (Curated by Meredith Connelly)

                The Space We Make - Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, Groton, Conn.


2024     For Carrying - Arena Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

                 These Things Can Be Complicated - Arena Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

                 Big Top - Dumbo Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY., (Curated by Sharon Butler)

                 Partial Company - Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, Groton, Conn., (Curated by Annie Schwartz)


2023    Think of a Door - Arena Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. 

                She Waits. Seething. Blooming - Arena Gallery, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.

              

2022     Nutrient Rich - Good Year Arts, Charlotte, NC 

                 

2021     Novant Student Show. UNCC student exhibition at the Novant Medical Center Charlotte, NC


2020     Tone.  Cabarrus Arts Council in Concord, NC (Curated by Laurie Schorr) 


2019    Women by Women. SE Center for Photography in Greenville, SC (Juried by Kat Keirman)

                Summer Blues. Goodyear Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina (Curated by Hamilton Ward)

                Light Factory Member Show, Charlotte, NC


2018     An Alternative Perspective. Group exhibition at C3 Lab Gallery located in Charlotte, NC

                 Light Factory Member Show, Charlotte, NC


Selected Special Projects & Awards


2025      Shortlisted for NYPL Picture Collection Artist Fellowship

                  Nominated for Edward Victor Gant Scholarship at UConn

                  Nominated for Outstanding Graduate/Teaching Assistant Award at UConn

                  Awarded UConn Graduate School Conference/Residency Participation Award

2024      Finalist for the Edward Victor Gant Scholarship at UConn

                  Nominated for Student Employee of the Year UConn 

2023      Graduated Summa Cum Laude at University of North Carolina Charlotte 

2022      Outstanding Art History Senior Award from UNCC Art and Art History Department

2021      Photography commissioned for Carolina Premium Beverage Distribution Center Charlotte Office

2019      Recipient of Charlotte's Art's and Science Council 2019 CSA Grant

2018      First place winner of The Light Factory's Member Show


Residencies


2025      Elf School of the Arts, Hayesville, NC 

2020      Hemlock House Residency, Western NC

2019      Winter Residency at Penland School of Craft, Spruce Pine, NC


Curatorial Work


2025       Co-Curator for GIANT SMALL WORKS  at Contemporary Art Galleries, Storrs, Conn.

                   Curator for The Space We Make at Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, Groton, Conn.


Guest Speaker/Presentations 


2026     (forthcoming) Panelist , Society For Photographic Education, Atlanta, GA 

                 (forthcoming) Student Presentation, Society For Photographic Education, Atlanta, GA 

2025      Artist Talk, Anonymous Society Gallery, Redding, CT

                  Presenter, Graduate Student Research Symposium, UConn, Storrs, CT 

2024      Artist Talk, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT

                  Guest Lecture about Judy Chicago, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT

                  Panelist at Mooresville Arts Talk, Mooresville, NC

                  Guest Lecture for Two Sections of Politics of Reproduction Class at UConn

2023      Artist Talk for Intermediate Photography at UConn 

2021      Featured Student Speaker at 10th Annual UNCC Art and Art History Symposium

                  Artist Conversation for On Being: Maiden, Mother, Crone

2020      Artist Talk, The Light Factory, Charlotte, NC

2019      Artist Talk at Charlotte's Art's and Science Council CSA Grant Reception 


Press & Publications


2025     UConn Today - Working in Multiples: Counterproof Press Exhibition Displays Art Made At and For UConn

                  New Haven Independent - Artists Tell The Stories Beneath The Stories

                  Lens Scratch - Photographers on Photographers: Lydia McNiff in conversation with Sonja Langford

                  Redding Sentinel - Anonymous Society show examines "moments that define us"

2024      Lens Scratch - Sonja Langford: The Way of Being a Woman

                  Two Coats of Paint - "Big Top" DUMBO Open Studios

2023      Two Coats of Paint - Meet UConn's MFA Studio Art Class of 2026

                  Hyperallergic - Meet UConn’s MFA Studio Art Class of 2026

                  Niner Times - Humans of Charlotte Feature 

2022      Gulf Coast Media - Bodies of Work 

2021      Featured Photographer in NSEW Photography Magazine


Teaching Experiences


Facilitator & Curriculum Designer, Leadership Workshop Series, UConn, 2024-Current

Instructor of Record for Intermediate Photography (Analog), UConn, Fall 2025

Teaching Assistant for Basic Photography (Digital), UConn, Spring 2024

Teaching Assistant for Intermediate Photography (Analog), UConn, Fall 2023

Facilitator, Four Arrows Challenge Course, UConn, 2023-2024

Facilitator, Venture Challenge Course, UNC Charlotte, 2022-2023

Teaching Assistant for Camera and Light (Large Format Darkroom Class), UNCC, Fall 2022

Cyanotype Workshop at Hemlock House Residency, Western NC, 2020


Portfolio Review & Related Experiences


2025      Reviewer for Five Points Portfolio Day, Torrington, CT 

2024      Connecticut 4-H Photography Contest (Judge)


Professional Experiences 


Graduate Assistant, CounterProof Press, University of Connecticut, 2024 – 2025

Graduate Assistant, Contemporary Art Galleries, University of Connecticut, 2024 – 2025

Graduate Assistant, Digital Arts Services Lab & Darkroom, University of Connecticut, 2023 – 2024

President, Society of Art Historians at UNCC 

Lab Assistant for UNC Charlotte Darkroom, Fall 2022

Assisted photographer Sonia Handelman Meyer in archiving her personal collection and archives. 2021-2022

Gallery Assistant, Light Factory, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2019


Her work is held in the Archive & Special Collections at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut as well as in numerous private collections throughout the United States.