John Jayson Sonnier
Sculptor

Hawaiian Superman

Cinco Mujeres

Just Jack in the Pulpit

Petra Flora

John Jayson Sonnier
9411 Hale Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Home: 301-565-2574
Cell: 240-381-7465
E-Mail: johnsonnier@comcast.net
Visit: www.JohnSonnierSculptor.com 

John Jayson Sonnier has been a garden designer for more than twenty five years and has created many private and public gardens. It is through his association with plants that he draws inspiration for his sculpture.

Taught by Master Sculptor Constantine Seferlis, Sonnier continues to carry on the tradition of stone carving. “I feel it is my responsibility to carry on the legacy of all the great sculptors that have passed on. Constantine entrusted me to not only learn from him but to also teach others. In doing so I honor the wonderful lessons of sculpture he gave me.”

Sonnier presently teaches sculpture at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington, D.C.. Previously, Sonnier taught sculpture at the Northern Virginia Community College and garden design at the George Washington University.

John was commissioned to create an original work, piece, “Gratitude,” in recognition of the generosity of donors to the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. Unveiled in 2006, it is now on permanent display in the hospital concourse. Also in 2006 John created the piece "Knowledge Passed" for the exhibit "Botanical Treasures of Lewis and Clark" at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The piece is now on display at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library. In 2004, Sonnier completed “Brush Strokes,” commissioned by Montgomery County, MD, to commemorate the revitalization of downtown Silver Spring. An exhibit of how the sculpture was conceived and created was shown at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring.

Among his other accomplishments is his piece “ Just Jack in the Pulpit” selected by jury to be exhibited at the National Sculpture Society’s 70th Annual Exhibit in 2003, held at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina and at the NSS gallery in New York City. “It was a great honor to have my work selected by the NSS, and especially humbling to exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens, the nation's oldest sculpture garden.” A bronze edition of “Just Jack in the Pulpit” was purchased by Cyrus Katzen for his collection at the Katzen Arts Center at the American University. In 2002, his sculpture was also chosen to be exhibited at Sculpture in the Park in Loveland, CO, the largest juried outdoor sculpture competition in the United States.

Works by Sonnier are now in private and public collections throughout the United States and Mexico. Sonnier's latest work, “Fiddlehead,” is featured at the U.S. Botanic Garden special exhibit, “Flora: Growing Inspirations” until October 12, 2009. To finish out 2009, John was chosen to exhibit three pieces of his work in the “Florence Biennale”. The Florence Biennale Internazionale Dell’Arte Contemporanea will be held in Florence Italty from December 5th through the 13th 2009, featuring over 700 artists from over 70 countries.

Sonnier’s sculpture can be viewed at Waverly Street Gallery in Bethesda, MD, and Ayr Hill Gallery in Vienna, VA.