He was born in 1948 in Muscat, where he lives and works. Anwar Sonya, one of the founders of the Omani Art Movement, has been very active in the movement and made Omani art visible on the international arena. Sonya’s approach to a contemporary style started in the mid nineties, and has been highly appreciated by critics and collectors. He is inspired by the mystical Dhofar region, his homeland. By incorporating Arabic calligraphy into his abstractions, Sonya added a wonderful dimension to his work. His work has been presented in many local and international exhibitions. He was one of the artists participating in The Circle, a yearly contemporary art exhibition featuring installation works staged in Muscat. Anwar Sonya has been awarded multiple times for his services to Omani art and received the Golden prize from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos as the best artist. He was honoured by Sharjah International Biennial as The Most Distinguished Arab Artist. Anwar Sonya has also participated in Art Paris-Abu Dhabi (2007 and 2008) with Bait Muzna Gallery as the gallery’s leading artist.
