Expressive creatures tell a playful, other-worldly story in this sculptural series by Sofía Barbé. Working with mixed-media, including discarded wood cuttings, wire, needle felting, and paint, Sofía creates tactile figures; characters defined by their distinctive poses and expressions. Alongside these are felted wall hangings that tell visual stories, with certain characters reappearing across the works.

Rooted in instinct and imagination, the series explores connection with the inner child. Playfulness and joy sit alongside emotional complexity, allowing curiosity, vulnerability, and tenderness to coexist. The creatures appear to communicate with one another as well as the viewer, shifting from observed objects to familiar companions - these friends of ours.

Sofía is a Uruguayan, London-based artist. She holds an MA in Textiles from the Royal College of Art and a BA in Fashion Design from ORT University. Her work has been exhibited across the UK, including at Make Southwest, Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, New Brewery Arts, and Platform Gallery. Her practice has received international recognition, including finalist status for the NYTM Dorothy Waxman International Textile Prize and the Newby Trust Craft Excellence Award at Cockpit Studios.

Looking ahead, Sofía aims to expand the series in scale, imagining life-sized versions of these creatures or an immersive, themed installation that invites interaction.