Sophie Braine worked for Christie's London for almost 10 years. She was a Researcher across departments for 19th Century, Impressionist and Post War & Contemporary Art, then a Specialist and Associate Director for 19th Century European Art, later focusing on art from the Nordic countries. As Head of Sale, she conceived of and inaugurated the Nordic Art and Design sales that would later inspire the launch of the sucessful PAD fairs the following year.
Working in the Impressionist & Modern Art department at King St, under the mentorship of the Chairman and Global Head of Impressionist & Modern Art, Jussi Pylkkänen, Sophie's curated sales were highly regarded, placing iconic art and design with some of the world's top institutions and collections, interior designers and celebrities such as Robert Forbes, Princess Firyal of Jordan, José Ferttita III, Jose Marino Architects and Johnny Depp.
With her specialist knowledge, she was asked to be the Executive Editor of 'Nordic Contemporary; Art from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden', published by Thames & Hudson in 2015. The publication includes interviews and information about museums, artists, curators and galleries in the region and working internationally, including the Louisiana Museum, the Moderna Museet and the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Elmgreen & Dragset, Olafur Eliasson, Karin Mamma Andersson, Daniel Birnbaum and Lars Nittve among many others.
Following the publication of 'Nordic Contemporary; Art from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden', Sophie initiated a series of popular seminars upon the theme at the Tate Modern in London entitled ‘Look Back, Think Foward: re-shaping the Nordic avant-garde’ | Tate Talks'.
Meanwhile, she worked for Max Wigram Gallery in Mayfair placing globally recognised artists such as John Giorno, Luis Zerbini, Jose Dávila, James White, FOS and Ximena Garrido Lecca with collectors such as Jorge Perez of the Perez Museum, Miami, Museo Jumex, Mexico City and the Pinault collection.
Sophie has been the Art Director / Curator for the Arete Arts Foundation and Arete Arts. She compiled and edited the recent publication 'Afroprophetic: Art transforming minds and nature'. The book is sold to raise funds to support pan-African projects that use the arts to enrich and educate the younger generation about environmental issues. Featured are personal interviews with internationally-acclaimed artists El Anatsui, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Wangechi Mutu, Serge Attukwei Clottey, Romuald Hazoumé, John Akomfrah RA, Sokari Douglas Camp CBE and Pascale Marthine Tayou.
In June 2023, Sophie curated an exhibition at Christie's London with selected works by the featured artists, to celebrate the launch of the Foundation alongside the associated publication and outreach projects.
More recently, Arete Arts has hosted successful fundraising events, seminars and exhibitions of emerging African artists in Verbier, Hong Kong, Chaminuka Lodge Reserve in Lusaka, Zambia, Nairobi, Kenya and at the Palais de Lomé, Togo and Dakar, Senegal.
Currently, Sophie focuses on helping established collectors to re-consider their current collection, new collectors to start collecting emerging artists, or working with interior design teams on commercial hotel projects. With these projects she incorporates a broad range of works including photography, prints, sculpture, paintings, furniture and objets d'art.
A portfolio of these projects is available upon request.