Sonja Hutchinson
Artist Bio:
Sonja Hutchinson is a Minnesota-based artist whose work is rooted in interpersonal connection and expressed through the fluid language of watercolor. She creates narratives that explore the intimacy of everyday interaction, illuminating interior landscapes we carry within us. Her journey as a professional artist emerged from a deeply people-centered first career, bringing with it a lifelong appreciation for relationships and the power of giving people permission to trust their own voice, strength and potential.
Before dedicating herself fully to painting, Sonja spent more than 30 years as an Account Director with BI Worldwide, where she specialized in employee engagement and recognition. The BI culture of celebrating people, and helping individuals thrive is embedded in her own philosophy and sense of community. What began as a career evolved into something that felt more like an extended family, shaping the warmth and humanity that now carry through her artistic work. Watercolor became her “second career,” but also a natural continuation of her desire to encourage, uplift, and connect with others.
Painting in watercolor since 1999, she is drawn to the medium’s balance of spontaneity and intention, embracing both its unpredictability and expressive power. Her background in leadership, communication, and relationship-building continues to inform her artistic practice, where human connection remains central.
Her recent “HumanSpirit” series reflects moments of joy, empowerment and growth that sustain wellbeing and deepen our sense of belonging. Through layered washes, expressive mark-making, and atmospheric light, her paintings invite viewers into narratives that are both personal and universal.
Sonja has studied with nationally and internationally recognized watercolor artists including Alvaro Castagnet, Cheng-Khee Chee, Andy Evansen, and John Salminen. She served as President of the Minnesota Watercolor Society from 2016–2018 and was a member of its Board of Directors for thirteen years. In 2023, she served as juror for the Watercolor Category at the Minnesota State Fair.
Her work has received numerous honors in regional and national juried exhibitions, including awards from the Minnesota Artists Association, Red River Watercolor Society, Arts North International, and Northstar Watermedia National exhibitions. She has achieved Signature Status in both the Minnesota and Red River Watercolor Societies. In addition to her studio practice, Sonja teaches adult watercolor classes and mentors students through organizations including the Minnetonka Center for the Arts and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Her corporate commissions include projects for U.S. Bank and Monarch Wealth Advisors, while private commissions often commemorate meaningful milestones, treasured places, family histories, and lives remembered.
Sonja’s mission is to empower creative expression, encourage self-acceptance and affirm the threads that unite us.