Artist Info

 

Imke Sönnichsen is a figurative artist and illustrator with a fascination for imaginative and surreal themes.
Her work is published internationally and has won several awards.


Illustration
Born 1970 in the north of germany, she studied communication design with a focus on illustration at the Hochschule Mainz. While still a student, she caught the attention of publishers and was able to illustrate her first two picture books in 1999. Since then, she has worked with numerous publishers and many of her books have been translated, such as ‘Monster unter Willis Bett’ (A Monster under Alex's Bed) by Angelika Glitz (Chinese, Catalan, English UK, English US, Hebrew, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish). Many titles have also been adapted for television, animated or turned into puppet theatre productions. Apart from illustrating picture books, she also does cover designs, interior illustrations, hand lettering and designs postcards and greeting cards. She works both traditonally and digitally.

Fine Art
In addition to her client work, Imke Sönnichsen has started working on fine art projects since 2022.

"I am fascinated by nature, by its diversity in terms of both living beings and forms, and by questions that deal with reality. In my personal work, I often ask myself  “What if?” and explore what might lie behind the outer shell – born out of a longing for that brief, fleeting moment when the invisible becomes tangible. Most of the time I search for images that are quiet rather than loud; images that whisper. I always carry a sketchbook with me to collect impressions from everyday life and things that inspire me. These quick notes are then taken to the studio and developed into finished mixed media pieces."


Client List
Carlsen, Coppenrath, Cornelsen, Duden, Fischer, Gabriel, Gutrath, Herder, Jumbo, Jungbrunnen, Klett, Löwe, Oetinger, Ravensburger, Rowohlt, Sauerländer, Thienemann-Esslinger (among others)


Illustration Awards:

Reinhard Jung: “Das kleine Nein!”
- Die besten 7 (1999)
- Federhasenpreis Design Austria, 1. Platz (1999)
- Ehrenliste zum österreichischem Kinder- und Jugendbuchpreis (2000)

Ildiko von Kürthy: “Karl Zwerglein”
- Lobende Anerkennung der Stiftung Buchkunst “Die schönsten Bücher” (2003)

Gaby Scholz: “Frech wie Oskar”
- Bilderbuchpreis Buxtehuder Kälbchen (2011)


Exhibitions Illustration:

“Frau Holle, Märchen - Sage – Mythos“,
Schloß Elisabethenburg, Gruppenausstellung, Meininger Museen,
12. Nov 2009 - 2. Mai 2010

„Buxtehuder Kälbchen, Bilder der Preisträgerin 2011”,
Einzelausstellung, Kulturforum am Hafen in Buxtehude, Buxtehude,
2. Juni 2013 - 23. Juni 2013


Exhibitions Fine Art:

„Wunderwesen, Arbeiten von Imke Sönnichsen“,
Solo Show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
07. Mai 2023 – 28. Mai 2023

„Adventure23“
Group show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
05. November - 17. Dezember 2023

„Kunstvoll2024“ 
Group show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
Kunstroute Aachen 2024
01. September - 29.September 2024

"14.KunstHierHer"
Group Show, Nadelfabrik, Reichsweg 30, Aachen,
04. - 06. Oktober 2024

„Adventure24“ 
Group Show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
01. November -15. Dezember 2024

„Tiny Mysteries“
Solo Show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
04. Mai 2025 – 25. Mai 2025 

"15.KunstHierHer"
Group Show, Nadelfabrik, Reichsweg 30, Aachen,
03. - 05. Oktober 2025

„Kunstvoll2025“ 
Group Show, Galerie Triebwerk 8, Aachen,
Kunstroute Aachen 2025
27. September - 26. Oktober 2025